EPO Workers' Industrial Action to Include Many Strikes, to Last Several Months
Last month EPO workers voted for actions such as strikes. The media didn't mention this at all (not even self-described 'IP blogs') and as we've just noted, this really ought to change. The EPO is run by what staff calls "Mafia" and it attacks the media, too. In some ways, The Hague and Bavaria are becoming almost indistinguishable from Moscow. Corruption isn't a crime; exposing corruption is a 'crime'. Attacks on the media come in many forms; yesterday my wife and I both received threats from hired guns in London (hired by Americans, including one who was arrested for strangling women).
Benoît Battistelli was sort of 'ousted' (a "soft" expulsion) after many staff protests and negative media, which resulted in political interventions. This year might be the last of António Campinos because actions by staff will last for at least 7 months. They're tentatively organising as follows:
Like we repeatedly said before, it's important that every staff member participates. Don't try to come up with excuses. Next month we'll show and tell stories, illuminating the suffering of some EPO colleagues, even racism inside the "Mafia". Reading about the EPO is like reading about some Russian oblast; the abuse is incredible.
The above schedule is still under discussion and the union communicated with staff this week, offering an outline as follows:
Dear SUEPO members,
Dear Colleagues,Since the meeting of the Administrative Council on 10 and 11 December 2025, upper management has given no positive sign that they would propose to the Council a new salary adjustment procedure meeting the standards of the Tribunal and in line with the benchmark with other International Organisations. Instead, the Office celebrates in the Communiqué of 7 January 2026 that the 2020 reform which caused a loss of purchasing power for EPO staff “[has] stabilised staff costs and strengthened the Organisation’s financial position” (sic!).
A first Technical Meeting on “Orientations on the New Salary Adjustment Procedure” is planned to take place on 14 January. In the General Assembly, SUEPO Munich will report on this meeting. There is no indication that the new salary adjustment procedure will represent an improvement over the current one. Given past experience, we fear that the outcome may once again be detrimental.
Therefore, SUEPO Munich has prepared an industrial action plan to be proposed to the assembly for adoption.
[...]
EPO staff worked well and faithfully during the last six years. Instead of being rewarded for their efforts, EPO staff saw an erosion of their salaries.
It is time to put an end to this policy. Support the SUEPO Munich Action Plan 2026.
Join the General Assembly.
[...]
A more detailed paper said what the next steps will be and that the aims are:
INTERNATIONALE GEWERKSCHAFT IM EUROPÄISCHEN PATENTAMT
STAFF UNION OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE
UNION SYNDICALE DE L'OFFICE EUROPEEN DES BREVETSOrtssektion München
Local section Munich
Section locale de Munich8 January 2026
su26001mp – 0.2.1/0.2.2Invitation to SUEPO Munich General Assembly
Monday 19 January 2026 at 14.00 hrsAction Plan 2026 to stop the salary erosion of EPO staff
Dear SUEPO members,
Dear Colleagues,End of 2025, SUEPO Munich received the mandate from its active members to prepare an action to plan to stop the salary erosion of EPO staff. The members submitted their comments as to which industrial actions they would commit to follow. SUEPO Munich has now analysed the comments which show a preference for a combination of actions consisting of Work-To-Rule, Strikes and Demos.
Since the meeting of the Administrative Council on 10 and 11 December 2025, upper management has given no positive sign that they would propose to the Council a new salary adjustment procedure meeting the standards of the Tribunal and in line with the benchmark with other International Organisations. Instead, the Office celebrates in the Communiqué of 7 January 2026 that the 2020 reform which caused a loss of purchasing power for EPO staff “[has] stabilised staff costs and strengthened the Organisation’s financial position” (sic!).
A first Technical Meeting on “Orientations on the New Salary Adjustment Procedure” is planned to take place on 14 January. In the General Assembly, SUEPO Munich will report on this meeting. There is no indication that the new salary adjustment procedure will represent an improvement over the current one. Given past experience, we fear that the outcome may once again be detrimental.
Therefore, SUEPO Munich has prepared an industrial action plan to be proposed to the assembly for adoption.
Please note that in Judgment 4430 (of 2021) the Tribunal restored the right at the EPO to all industrial actions detailed below, highlighting them as a tool employees have to redress the imbalance of power between them and their employer. The dates and actions have been tailored to have a high impact.
Work-To-Rule: “Dry winter” - No grants
Starting from 20 January, SUEPO Munich calls for Work-To-Rule actions consisting in avoiding overtime, focusing on search or ensuring the best quality by applying thoroughly the EPC in intermediate actions instead of sending an expedited intention to grant.The Administrative Council delegations are particularly sensitive to the number of patents granted for which they receive a share of the renewal fees.
Warning strike: 23 February – GCC meeting
If the consultation on the new salary adjustment procedure is not fruitful, SUEPO Munich calls for a warning strike on Monday 23 February around the meeting of the General Consultative Committee during which the orientations for a new salary adjustment procedure to be submitted to the Council will be discussed.Demonstration: 18 March
A demonstration in front of the Isar building is planned on the first day of the March Council meeting on 18 March. In this meeting, the Council delegations will adopt the orientations proposed by upper management for the new salary adjustment procedure.High frequency strike as of 27 March
If the orientations adopted in the March Council meeting put again the EPO at the lowest end of the benchmark among International Organisation in terms of salary adjustments, SUEPO Munich calls for 2 days of strike per week until end of June.Days of strike are individually counted as 1/30th for the purpose of salary deductions. Weekend days are days of rest for which the employer pays (Judgment 4435, consideration 14).
Demonstration: 30 June
A demonstration in front of the Isar building is planned on the first day of the June Council meeting on 30 June. In this meeting, the Council delegations will adopt the final provisions proposed by upper management for the new salary adjustment procedure.In case the reform is again detrimental to EPO staff, the continuation of an action plan will then discussed in a General Assembly on 2 July 2026.
EPO staff worked well and faithfully during the last six years. Instead of being rewarded for their efforts, EPO staff saw an erosion of their salaries.
It is time to put an end to this policy. Support the SUEPO Munich Action Plan 2026.
Join the General Assembly. Add the Outlook invitation to your calendar
Timing: 19 January 2026, 14.00 hrs
Location: MS TeamsSUEPO Munich
Our coverage about Cocainegate won't end this month. Our goal is simple: give a voice to abused staff and illuminate suppressed facts. If you too are abused by the "Alicante Mafia", you can contact us anonymously or at least discreetly. That helps us corroborate and affirm what we hear. █