OVER A week ago we learned or became aware of an EPO propaganda event in Rijswijk. We then (very shortly afterwards) posted some details about it (this can be found in a previous article) and would like to post more information for the record.
“In several units, staff members took leave beforehand to avoid being on the list of available candidates for the “volunteer” selection process carried out by the line managers.”
--AnonymousAs we received feedback from a person who participated in the "Meet the President" event and many people were often even forced to attend, there's low risk of identities becoming known to the 'gestapo' [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].
The "Meet the President" event in Rijswijk was described by an anonymous source as follows:
Many staff tried to escape from being selected as “volunteers” to meet the president. In several units, staff members took leave beforehand to avoid being on the list of available candidates for the “volunteer” selection process carried out by the line managers. That's why the administration selected many “volunteers” amongst the probationers: they could not easily refuse the offer.
I went to the Shell building as I was "volunteered" to attend. I saw a 'white crowd' [a group of colleagues in white solidarity T-shirts] gathering in the cafeteria as I went through the check point with two security personnel.
“I went to the Shell building as I was "volunteered" to attend.”
--AnonymousAfter a while the reception area in front of the Auditorium was very full of other "volunteers". Then I heard whistling and noise coming from outside the entrance. The president had arrived.
A bit later I noticed the president asking the servant for a cup of coffee or tea and waiting at the counter in the front area, since hot drinks were apparently all finished. I had come without any expectation and was drinking my coffee (to stay awake in the presentation) somewhere in the crowd but had no interest at all to go talk to the president, and apparently nobody else had either. People were chatting all around but all backs turned to him. He looked extremely alone, almost like a leper and maybe he also felt so. His body language showed enough: hunchbacked and looking down, avoiding eye contact with his staff. This must have lasted not even a minute but it seemed much longer. It was very different from other occasions some years ago when he was mingling with staff and talking to us with panache and confidence.
“[Battistelli] looked extremely alone, almost like a leper and maybe he also felt so. His body language showed enough: hunchbacked and looking down, avoiding eye contact with his staff.”
--AnonymousFinally he got his cup and a girl politely said something to him and he looked happy for a moment. Then Mr. Philpott [a Principal Director] went to say something to him, and a bit later an accompanying person came along, and they went away. We were asked to enter the Auditorium and I went in quickly to find some inconspicuous seat in the middle. The whole speech was EPO-televised so that all staff could see it [on their computer screens]. I noticed a security guard upstairs in the back next to the control room, just like in the flier cartoon [No. 7 "Meet the President"]. But worse was that, when it was over and we were leaving the Auditorium, there were at least 10 security people standing outside, two guarding each exit door. It was bad enough that this whole exercise was just propaganda, but this in particular I found distressing and sad.