EPO strike may go ahead despite ‘meritless’ claim

A proposed strike today (October 14) at the European Patent Office (EPO) has been delayed and accused of being “without merit” but staff will still vote to take action later this month.

Earlier this month, WIPR reported that staff had called for strike action on “at least” October 14.

If approved, workers at EPO offices in The Hague, Munich and Berlin would have walked out the day before the next meeting of the office’s supervisory body, the Administrative Council, which is tomorrow (October 15).

But, in a notice sent to staff and seen by WIPR, EPO president Benoît Battistelli said strike action should be a “last resort” and that he had met the office’s central staff committee (CSC) on Friday (October 10).

“The refusal by the members of the CSC to enter into any meaningful discussion of the issues at stake means that a strike ballot becomes inevitable, even though the claims made in the petition are without objective merit,” he wrote.

A staff ballot on whether to take action will now be held on October 23.

Workers are understood to be concerned about changes at the office, including an abolition of new staff investigation guidelines, and are calling for freedom of communication for unions and other staff members.

There are also concerns surrounding changes to strike regulations, and alterations to starting salaries and career prospects.

In order to go ahead with strike action, at least 40% of staff are required to vote on the issue. At least 50% of those voting must then opt in favour of a strike.

The EPO’s administrative staff will need to check whether the threshold has been met before any action is confirmed.

If staff vote in favour of a strike it would be the third round of industrial action to hit the EPO since March this year.