Summary: A translation of the article "Medewerkers European Patent Office in actie tegen angstcultuur," courtesy of Petra Kramer

We are expecting Dutch press coverage to come soon, especially because Parliament is stepping in.

In the mean time, press releases are being issued and as we mentioned this morning, there are less than 24 hours before the EPO protest at The Hague commences.

Here is one new example of new coverage, translated for us by Petra Kramer:

Employees of European Patent Office take action against culture of fear

Tomorrow afternoon, Thursday, November 24th, employees of the European Patent Office (EPO) will rally against its Director, Mr Battistelli. They are supported in by the FNV (The largest Dutch union, with over a million members. PK). The employees have been suffering under the yoke of this director for years. Under the slogan "Enough is enough 'employees will demonstrate tomorrow at Square 1813, the Independence Square, in The Hague.

With this demonstration they call Secretary Martijn van Dam (Economic Affairs) to take action against Benoît Battistelli, which governs the EPO with an iron fist, and the fear culture he has created.

Date: Thursday, November 24 Time: 12:00 Location: Plein 1813, The Hague

The European Patent Office staff, a European organization located in Rijswijk, it was to live and work under the director. Battistelli rules with an iron fist and tolerates no participation or contradiction. He dismisses people at will, placing them back in office press unilaterally implements changes to working conditions and demotivates if the entire organization.

FNV supports the employees.

"Surely it cannot be so that the Dutch government allows such abuses on its own territory? If this type of abuse had occurred at a Dutch employer, the world had been too small (a Dutch exprssion meaning there would be outrage PK). Battistelli can not be allowed to hide behind immunity 'says Marieke Manschot, director FNV Government. "It is high time that Sate Secretary Van Dam State acts and stands up for the employees of the EPO. The FNV strongly supports these employees."

Court ruling

February last year, the Court in The Hague ruled Battistelli must abide by the rules and regulations as they are listed in the European Convention on Human Rights and the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Battistelli, however, argues that the verdict is not enforceable on the basis of immunity. He has the support of the Dutch state. This indicates that the Dutch legal system can not interve. "The Dutch government has a system of fear and arbitrariness on its home soil. This must stop, and as soon as possible, " concludes Manschot.

Source: Medewerkers European Patent Office in actie tegen angstcultuur

Morgenmiddag, donderdag 24 november, komen medewerkers van het European Patent Office (EPO) in actie tegen hun directeur, de heer Battistelli. Zij worden hierin gesteund door de FNV. De medewerkers gaan al jaren gebukt onder het juk van deze directeur. Onder het motto ‘Genoeg is genoeg’ demonstreren de medewerkers morgen op Plein 1813, hét onafhankelijkheidsplein, in Den Haag.

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