SUEPO Central Made a Strike (or Striking) Success
Today the EPO's staff was on strike. This time it was different. Many people won't be back to work tomorrow. Many won't return to the Office for many months to come.
Sooner or later, even the media will have to admit something went wrong. Stakeholders such as applicants (for patents) will complain.
The EPO cannot go on like this. Change is imperative. The most immediate solution is a management reboot; get rid of the "Alicante Mafia" and advertise all the vacant positions in such a way that not nepotism but actual qualifications (and proven track record) will fill the respective slots. Europe has more than enough qualified patent officials. It's just that they don't have "Alicante connections".
The union has long been outspoken about finances; it has very seldom mentioned the cocaine because that would really "trigger" the "Mafia" (as they call it). █