Yesterday: António Campinos Still Needs to Hold Team Battistelli Accountable for Illegally Bringing Weapons to the EPO

Summary: Solidarity and support for Laurent Prunier are needed because the new French president lacks empathy even for fellow Frenchmen whose sole 'crime' is that they represented EPO staff

NOT ONLY SUEPO (the union) but also the Central Staff Committee (CSC, representatives) is being gagged by the European Patent Office (EPO). Bergot, whom many insiders perceive to be the 'real' boss, sends them threatening letters. It's not surprising that they hardly say anything anymore. It is an atmosphere of sheer fear.

António Campinos has not repaired anything that Battistelli did; he has in fact escalated advocacy of software patents in Europe and he is stonewalling on the subject of staff representatives being subjected to union-busting by Battistelli. None of that has changed, based on this SUEPO support letter for Laurent Prunier, which one recipient decided to pass to us:

Dear SUEPO Members,

Mr Campinos has announced, in his Communiqué of 30.10.2018, that he would work towards amicable settlements. The CSC, SUEPO and the Union Syndicale Fédérale (USF) have written to the President calling for an “amnesty” for all staff representatives targeted by Mr Battistelli & co, and in particular for those who remain dismissed.

So far the Office has not reconsidered Laurent's unlawful dismissal and the Tribunal is unlikely to grant him relief before the end of 2019. Laurent is sick, remains unable to work, and thus without independent income. He still needs our support to stay afloat until a proper solution is found.

You can support Laurent with one-off donations, or with regular (monthly) donations. All donations are welcome and very much appreciated, regardless of the amount.

Here are Laurent's bank coordinates:

[redacted]

We thank you for considering supporting a colleague who worked tirelessly to defend (y)our collective rights and got sacked for that.

Your SUEPO Committee The Hague

The deteriorating health of this staff representative, whom sources of ours describe as a nice person, makes it a matter of urgency. But of course Campinos lacks compassion and common sense; he's all PR skills, but deep inside it's another Battistelli/Bergot. People are rightly running out of patience with him. ⬆