Social Dialogue at the European Patent Office (EPO) is Dead, the Strikes and Work Stoppage-Like Actions Carry on
3 days ago: The European Patent Office's (EPO) Crisis Week Ends Today, the Rest of the Year Will be EPO Staff on Strike
- Number of Patent Grants Has Plunged 23% Amid Strikes at the European Patent Office, Today There Are More Strikes (Strike Participation at Over 3,000, More Than Doubled Since Winter)
- Today There's a Massive EPO Strike (Like Every Friday), Workers Explain Further Cuts Despite the EPO Making More Income by Granting Illegal Patents (or Invalid Patents Illegally)
- European Patent Office's (EPO) Strikes "at a Scale not Seen Since Battistelli", European Patent Grants Down by Over 25% in Past 3 Months
Yesterday we covered what Germany did regarding the so-called 'SAP' (not the German company, the de facto salary cuts) and today we share an "OPEN LETTER" circulated last week regarding the lack of social dialogue at the Office. It's just a box-ticking exercise, that's all there seems to be to it.
In the words of the Central Staff Committee:
Open letter to the PresidentDear Colleagues,
The result of the Staff Committee elections confirms once again the strong and sustained support for SUEPO-backed representation.
Staff have renewed their support for SUEPO which has consistently challenged unfair policies and defended staff interests.
This election took place in a context of ongoing industrial action that has recently been intensified to daily strikes. The reason for this escalation is clear: the salary adjustment mechanism and the erosion of purchasing power which, despite all our efforts, remains unresolved.
However, the deeper issue goes beyond the salary adjustment method itself.
The core problem is that senior management decisions are effectively taken unilaterally without meaningful constraint. Consultation with staff representation has become procedural. Meetings take place, positions are exchanged, but outcomes remain unaffected. Decisions are implemented regardless of staff input, the so-called dialogue serves only to formalise pre-determined outcomes.
Here is the full letter that they're alluding to:
European Patent Office
80298 Munich
GermanyCentral Staff Committee
Comité central du personnel
Zentraler PersonalausschusscentralSTCOM@epo.org
Reference: sc26047cl
Date: 29/06/2026European Patent Office | 80298 MUNICH | GERMANY
To: Mr António Campinos (President of the Office)
Cc: Social DialogueBy email:
To: president@epo.org
Cc: socialdialogue@epo.orgOPEN LETTER
Breakdown of social dialogue and escalation of industrial action
Dear Mr President,
Dear Members of Senior Management,The result of the Staff Committee elections confirms once again the strong and sustained support for SUEPO-backed representation.
Staff have renewed their support for SUEPO which has consistently challenged unfair policies and defended staff interests.
This election took place in a context of ongoing industrial action that has recently been intensified to daily strikes. The reason for this escalation is clear: the salary adjustment mechanism and the erosion of purchasing power which, despite all our efforts, remains unresolved.
However, the deeper issue goes beyond the salary adjustment method itself.
The core problem is that senior management decisions are effectively taken unilaterally without meaningful constraint. Consultation with staff representation has become procedural. Meetings take place, positions are exchanged, but outcomes remain unaffected. Decisions are implemented regardless of staff input, the so-called dialogue serves only to formalise pre-determined outcomes.
This is the primary source of distrust.
We therefore request that:
• The salary adjustment procedure be negotiated in a fair and bilateral manner with the Staff Representation. The consultation must become capable of changing the outcome, not merely recording positions.
• The restriction on mass communication must be lifted to restore basic balance in internal dialogue.
• The Office must take concrete steps to restore trust, before the current social conflict escalates further and causes lasting damage to the office. A real negotiation framework must replace the current box-ticking process.
The EPO cannot continue to rely on the commitment, productivity, and expertise of its staff while systematically disregarding their democratic and legitimate concerns and degrading their work-package, their rights and remuneration.
The way forward is clear.
The current path risks further confrontation and declining trust. By contrast, a return to the negotiation table, respect for the democratic mandate expressed by staff, and a renewed commitment to dialogue would help begin repairing the social fabric of the Organisation.
The Staff Representation remains ready to negotiate at any time but only in a framework where negotiation has real impact. This is the mandate that staff bestowed upon us, their representatives. Sincerely yours,
Derek Kelly
Chairman of the Central Staff Committee
What next for the EPO? How much lower can Campinos stoop? █