Workers of the European Patent Office (EPO) Explain Why They Might Soon Go on Strike (It's Not Just About Money)
As we noted this morning, EPO staff may go on strike to protest against António Campinos and his "Mafia".
"I hope that even the mainstream news picks up on /why/ they are striking," an associate has argued, "and that they focus on that rather than a generic murmur about 'higher wages'" (there are other reasons).
The Local Staff Committee The Hague has explained (earlier this week) some of the core issues, or at least the latest issue:
Dear colleagues,On 13 November, the Local Staff Committee The Hague presented an update on the current Salary Adjustment Procedure (SAP 2021–2026), its effects, and ongoing litigation.
For the Netherlands, the cumulative adjustment over six years is 6.8p.p. below national inflation and 3.7p.p. below the underlying method, resulting in a permanent loss to salaries, allowances and pensions. Contrary to earlier assurances, the sustainability clause has produced adjustments below Eurozone inflation, leading to savings far above initial projections.
Several SAP-related cases are still pending. In SAP III, the Appeals Committee unanimously found the sustainability clause to breach equal treatment, but the Office has again chosen not to follow this opinion.
With the Office’s financial position now significantly improved, the upcoming SAP review is a key moment to restore a fair salary adjustment procedure.
Here is the longer publication, dated 3 days ago:
Staff Committee The Hague
Comité du personnel de La Haye
Personalausschuss Den HaagRijswijk, 24 November 2025
sc25017hpThe Salary Adjustment Procedure:
Where we stand and what comes next
Slides of the information session held on 13 November 2025
Dear colleagues,
On the 13th November, the Local Staff Committee The Hague held an information session on “The Salary Adjustment Procedure: Where We Stand and What Comes Next.” The presentation reviewed the effects of the current SAP cycle (2021–2026), highlighted the issues with the method and its implementation, and provided an update on the ongoing litigation.
The analysis showed that, for the Netherlands, the cumulative adjustment over six years is 6.8p.p. below national inflation and 3.7p.p. below the underlying methodology. This represents a permanent loss to salaries, allowances and pensions. Despite assurances from the President that salaries would continue to grow above Eurozone inflation, the sustainability clause has in practice produced lower than Eurozone inflation adjustments over the six-year period, leading to savings well beyond those originally presented to the Administrative Council.
We also provided an overview of the extensive litigation: multiple SAP-related cases are pending before the ILOAT or the Appeals Committee. Notably, in the SAP III case, the ApC unanimously found that the sustainability clause violates equal treatment and should be invalidated. However, the Office has again disregarded this opinion.
As we approach the review of the SAP, it is clear that staff have already contributed more than their fair share, through salary erosion, higher pension contributions and ever-increasing productivity, while other stakeholders have not contributed proportionately. With the Office’s now presenting a financial situation that has significantly improved, now is the moment to restore a fair salary adjustment procedure.
Read more in these slides.
The Local Staff Committee The Hague
Here are the slides they're alluding to:
This was two weeks ago. Two weeks from now there may be strikes. █