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28 January 2016Patents

EPO staff to hold demo in The Hague

A demonstration by a group of staff members at the European Patent Office’s (EPO) branch in The Hague is due to take place today, January 28.

The Staff Union of the European Patent Office (SUEPO), in a flyer dated January 26, said the demo is part of a continuing campaign to combat the alleged “witch hunting” of union representatives.

Protestors plan to march from the city’s French embassy to the German embassy. The demo is due to start at lunchtime.

The action follows a demo at the EPO’s Munich office on January 20. According to SUEPO, it attracted more than 1,000 people.

It is the second demo to take place since two high-ranking officials at the union were dismissed.

Elizabeth Hardon, chair of SUEPO’s Munich branch, and Ion Brumme, SUEPO’s treasurer, were sacked on January 15.

Both Hardon and Brumme were accused of participating in a “damaging defamation campaign” against other members of staff.

According to the EPO’s managers, they want to engage in a “social dialogue” with SUEPO about the unions being recognised.

But SUEPO said that for any talks to take place, all disciplinary measures handed out to union representatives must be withdrawn.

A spokesperson for the EPO denied that there was a witch hunt against SUEPO and affirmed that the sanctions were taken for individual cases. The spokesperson added that the door remains open for SUEPO to engage in a discussion on the rules and responsibilities surrounding union recognition.

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