This week, MEPs voted heavily in favour of ending the UK's right to allow an opt-out of the working time directive, which caps the working week at 48 hours.

Unite has long called for the cap to be introduced in the UK and a large number of members were in Strasbourg before the vote protesting for the UK to get in line with its European counterparts.

Members of the PrintWeek forums have lambasted the vote, which they feared could end the possibility of overtime that is more than 48 hours – even if the employee wanted to.

However, Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke told PrintWeek that people may have misunderstood the ruling, and claimed that it is a victory for those fighting against employee exploitation.

He said: "The ruling appears to be misunderstood by many. It does not stop individuals working additional hours of 48 hours. But it does mean those people who have responsibilities will no longer be forced to work longer than the legislation.

"We have had examples in print of tremendous pressure being put on employees to work as many as 60 hours a week and examples of employees being forced to work very long hours with no overtime pay.

"It has also been shown that people working long hours and operating dangerous machinery are prone to make mistakes. They can spoil jobs and it can lead to accidents so there is a health and safety element as well.

"We are very much in favour of this directive."

MEPs voted 421 to 273 in favour of the 48-hour working week.

Talks will now take place between the European Parliament and the 27 EU member states. They have until May to reach a compromise on the revised directive, or it could collapse. If that happens, the status quo will remain, and the British opt-out will still be in place.