EPO Union Leaders in Rijswijk Explain Where EPO Strikes Stand and How to Prepare for Next Week's
It's getting bigger and the word spreads
THE EPO's staff will soon go on strike again. This will mark the longest streak of strikes since the Benoît Battistelli days. António Campinos is reportedly shying away from meetings, probably recognising he has serious problems aside from these strikes, e.g. can he silently reinstate his cocaine buddy to speak for him?
Yesterday union members were notified by the leaders:
Dear SUEPO members, dear colleagues,We inform you that the updated Action Plan 2026 has been published. Work-To-Rule continues for all staff. The next Warning Strike will take place on Monday 23 February.
The full overview of recent developments, negotiations, and planned actions is available in this paper.
The slides presented during the meeting are available here.
It is time to put an end to further salary erosion. Support the SUEPO The Hague Action Plan 2026.
The paper they speak of was leaked to us and today we reproduce it for everybody to see:
INTERNATIONALE GEWERKSCHAFT IM EUROPÄISCHEN PATENTAMT
STAFF UNION OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE
UNION SYNDICALE DE L'OFFICE EUROPEEN DES BREVETSOrtssektion Den Haag
Local section The Hague
Section locale La Haye18 February 2026
su26007hp 0.2.1Action Plan 2026 to stop the salary erosion of EPO staff
Work-To-Rule continues
Strike on Monday 23 FebruaryDear SUEPO members, dear colleagues,
Given the rapidly evolving situation, we would like to provide you with an update on the latest developments. Please find a consolidated overview in the list below.
Invitation to negotiate: On Wednesday 11 February, the Union Syndicale Fédérale published on the first day of strike and SUEPO Central invited the President of EPO to an urgent meeting to be held ahead of the next planned strike day. The President of EPO replied to the joint letter of SUEPO Munich and The Hague and replied to SUEPO Central indicating that the three Vice-Presidents will organise a meeting with SUEPO to discuss the salary adjustment proposal and the industrial actions. The meeting is scheduled to take place on the Thursday 19 February.
General Assembly in The Hague: On Thursday 12 February, 688 staff members gathered in a general assembly. The LSC The Hague informed about the latest developments and strike actions. The slides presented during the meeting are available here.
Office Communiqué: On Thursday 12 February, the Office published a Communiqué on the proposed salary adjustment method. The communiqué mistakenly assesses the effects of the proposed annual cash settlement, which according to the Office aims at ensuring that reductions in purchasing power are mitigated. It is well known that a one off annual cash settlement cannot mitigate the permanent loss in purchasing power inflicted on staff. It provides compensation for only a single year of purchasing power loss, completely neglecting the losses in every other year of the lifetime of a staff member in terms of their salary and pension, including allowances. The fact that the Office attempt to present this measure as a legitimate solution to the problem is perceived as an attempt to mislead, as is evident to staff.
Meet the President: On Friday 13 February, the President of EPO re-launched the initiative to meet Teams and Directorates “New opportunities to meet the President”. Staff is welcome to use this opportunity to remind him of his 2020 commitment not to
cut purchasing power or impose unnecessary savings, that the Office is in a very solid financial situation, and that the Tribunal rules against unjustified erosion of salaries.
Action Plan: Staff has worked diligently and efficiently, yet the President of EPO continues to erode their salaries and benefits without financial justification (the 2026 Budget foresees an operating surplus of 643 M€). It is time to respond. It is time to act decisively.
- Work-To-Rule: The action continues for all staff. Avoid working longer than contracted hours. Do not engage in any voluntary tasks. Focus on meticulous quality and the thorough application of the EPC. For examiners: The AC delegations are particularly sensitive to the number of patents granted from which they receive a share of the renewal fees. Focus on search, and first and intermediate actions.
- Warning Strike: Monday 23 February is the second warning strike. The day after, the GCC will meet to discuss the “future orientations on the salary adjustment procedure”. Thursday 19 March is the third and last warning strike, coinciding with the second day of the Administrative Council meeting. Register for the Strike, check your team calendar and invite your colleagues to join.
The slides presented during the meeting are available here.
It is time to put an end to further erosion of salaries and benefits. Support the SUEPO The Hague Action Plan 2026.
Kind regards,
Your SUEPO TH committee, M18B10 and De Bruyn Kopsstraat, 15, Rijswijk
[...]
We have some revelations to share in a few days (see Part I and Part II for clues). █