EPO staff to hold third demo in as many weeks
The European Patent Office’s (EPO) staff union has said it will be holding a third demonstration in as many weeks, to tie in with the first day of a disciplinary hearing for three suspended members.
Last month, the three workers were suspended pending an investigation.
Two demonstrations in support of the three workers, one of which reportedly attracted around 2,000 attendees, were held in Munich and The Hague last week.
The latest demo will be held on Thursday, December 10 and will take place at the Bavarian Ministry of Justice at 12pm local time.
The date has also been chosen to tie in with world Human Rights Day.
Meanwhile, the EPO is hiring an investigator with forensic specialities to join its investigations unit.
The office told WIPR the unit consists of six members: three investigators, two support staff and one head of the unit.
An EPO spokesperson told WIPR that the EPO’s guidelines for investigations, which are published online, and the setting up of a small investigative unit, give staff a “safe framework” to report suspected wrongdoings—while protecting everyone’s rights.
“There is a clear separation between the investigative process (ie, evidence gathering) and any further safeguarded disciplinary process—should it be necessary. Introducing this unit creates a framework for the EPO to exercise its duty of care, to protect all of us from harassment,” the spokesperson added.
