EPO staff hold demonstration for suspended workers
A demonstration to show support for two suspended staff members is starting at the European Patent Office’s (EPO) Netherlands branch today (December 2), as staff members begin their third round of strikes in as many weeks.
Certain staff members at the EPO’s office in The Hague left the building at 10.30am local time and were due to travel to the city’s French and Danish embassies.
Workers are protesting at the suspension in October of a former member of the Munich branch of the internal appeals committee (IAC), a body that oversees disputes over decisions that affect staff members.
They will also show support for another former IAC member, who worked in The Hague office, and was also allegedly suspended last month.
WIPR has been asked not to name either worker.
There will also be a demonstration in Munich, where the EPO's headquarters is located.
Last month, WIPR reported that what was advertised as a “peaceful” meeting arranged for staff to show their support had allegedly been blocked.
The demonstration comes as staff near the half-way point in what the office’s staff union has dubbed an “incremental” five-week strike.
Workers will walk out today, as well as on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Next week there will be a four-day strike beginning on Monday (December 8), culminating in a week-long strike the following week.
So far, more than 20% of the overall workforce, across three offices, has gone on strike over three days of action and has held two further strikes since March this year.
