António Campinos Hiding From Staff Amid Strikes, Won't Participate in Dialogue
The reign of Campinos may come to an end over a year from now, but he won't give up without a fight bribe. The Central Staff Committee wrote to him last week, then wrote to staff:
Open letter to the President
Dear Colleagues,
By letter of 16 July 2026, the Central Staff Committee (CSC), newly elected by the staff of the Office, invited you to a meeting before the summer break together with a list of agenda items. These include fixed-term employment, provision of health services, career development, transparent recruitment, formalities officers.
To date, the 20 members of the CSC are still waiting for the formal invitation.
In recent months, oral and written exchanges took place with lower management. However, meetings with lower management are no substitute to a meeting with the President. Since 29 September 2022, the President has not attended a single meeting of the General Consultative Committee nor for the last two years any meeting with the CSC.
In this open letter, the Central Staff Committee (CSC) requests again a formal invitation to be sent to the 20 members of the CSC. A continuous absence of the President will only result in a continuation of the industrial action.
Sincerely yours,
Here is the full letter:
European Patent Office
80298 Munich
GermanyCentral Staff Committee
Comité central du personnel
Zentraler PersonalausschusscentralSTCOM@epo.org
Reference: sc26083cl
Date: 05/11/2026
European Patent Office | 80298 MUNICH | GERMANY
To: Mr António Campinos (President of the EPO)
Cc: Members of the Delegations in the Administrative CouncilBy email:
To: president@epo.org
Cc: council@epo.orgOPEN LETTER
Re. Invitation to renew social dialogue
Dear Mr President,
By letter of 16 July 20261, the Central Staff Committee (CSC), newly elected by the staff of the Office, invited you to a meeting before the summer break together with a list of agenda items. These include fixed-term employment, provision of health services, career development, transparent recruitment, formalities officers.
In the absence of a formal invitation to an initial meeting between the President and the members of the newly elected CSC, the CSC sent a first reminder on 28 September and a second reminder on 23 October. Furthermore, the CSC expressed that such a meeting should be held in person and scheduled sufficiently far in advance to allow for adequate preparation.
To date, the 20 members of the CSC are still waiting for the formal invitation.
In recent months, oral and written exchanges took place with lower management. However, meetings with lower management are no substitute to a meeting with the President. We stress that since 29 September 2022, you have not attended a single meeting of the General Consultative Committee nor for the last two years any meeting with the CSC.
Staff representatives may hold and express views that differ fundamentally from those of the Administration. Such disagreements are an inherent part of social
_____
1 “Invitation to renew social dialogue”, CSC letter of 16 July 2026 (sc26054cl)
dialogue. We would expect that the President of the Office is willing and able to participate in such discussions in person.
We kindly request again a formal invitation to be sent to the 20 members of the CSC. A continuous absence of the President will only result in a continuation of the industrial action.
Sincerely yours,
Derek Kelly
Chairman of the Central Staff Committee
The key part: "A continuous absence of the President will only result in a continuation of the industrial action."
They voted to continue striking until Christmas and they can carry on next year. █
