EPO staff opt for strikes over five weeks

Staff at the European Patent Office (EPO) have agreed to a series of intermittent strikes over five weeks, WIPR has learned.

The news was revealed yesterday (November 11) following a meeting of staff members who voted on a number of options for strikes. There have been two already at the office since March.

According to sources, around 600-700 people were present for the vote and decided on “incremental” strikes.

They will take place over the course of five weeks and will increase by one day each week. It has not yet been confirmed when the strikes will start.

As WIPR reported last week, staff members were given a number of strike options, which also included a month-long continuous walk out.

A one-day strike, with the added possibility of a demonstration, and a split one-day strike and then a three-day strike were also among the proposals.

A staff member told WIPR the option to proceed with incremental strikes was “a compromise”.

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

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

According to a document outlining the strike options, the action will be called off if negotiations are resumed with the office’s management.

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