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6 October 2014Patents

EPO staff call for new strike

Staff at the European Patent Office (EPO) have called for further strike action as unrest between its workers and management continues to grow, WIPR can reveal.

The Munich-based office’s Central Staff Committee (CSC) has notified President Benoît Battistelli of its intention to strike on “at least” October 14, the day before the next meeting of the EPO’s advisory body, the Administrative Council.

Strike action has also been planned at the EPO’s other sites in The Hague and Berlin.

If approved, it would be the third round of strikes to hit the EPO this year.

In its reasons for demanding a strike, staff claim they want changes including an abolition of new staff investigation guidelines and freedom of communication for unions and other staff members.

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

In June, WIPR reported that a call for a strike had been rejected because it might create confusion at a time when new staff representatives were being elected. However, the claims were rejected by staff as an excuse to brush away issues.

“This new call for a strike comprises the same claims as the former petition concerning the reforms that are already implemented. It also aims to prevent a further negative impact on our organisation,” a letter sent to staff and seen by WIPR said.

In order to go ahead with strike action, at least 40% of staff are required to vote on whether or not to take action, and at least 50 percent of those voting must vote in favour of it.

Whether this threshold has been met will need to be checked by the EPO’s administrative staff before any action is confirmed.

Last month, WIPR revealed that anti-corruption organisation Transparency International had offered its services to the Administrative Council following contact with staff unions but had yet to receive a response.

The EPO did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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