Over 1,500 EPO Workers Went on Strike Last Week
This morning: EPO and "Equivalent to More Than 100 Days of Strike"
The SUEPO The Hague Committee (EPO staff union in The Netherlands) has just circulated a new publication which celebrates some accomplishments of industrial actions and calls for further actions.
The contents of the publication are reproduced below in GemText/HTML/plain text:
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 Haye03 March 2026
su26008hpIndustrial actions deliver first results, yet
greater production drop needed nowAdministration makes minor changes to Salary Adjustment Procedure (SAP) proposal, but not nearly enough to change course
Over the past six years, staff have lost 6.8% in real purchasing power, while the Office reports 11% productivity growth and claims “social peace.” The Administration’s recent amendment - a yearly lumpsum - only happened because staff took action but remains far from enough as it does not address the long-term damage to salaries and pensions. Participation in strikes and work-to-rule has already reduced production by about 2,000 products, showing clear dissatisfaction. To influence the Administrative Council’s decisions in March and June, we must maintain and strengthen industrial action, including reducing production as much as your situation allows and registering for strike on 19 March. The losses caused by the current SAP since its introduction would have financed the equivalent of 100 strike days per employee. Action is an investment in our future - not a cost.
What has happened so far
Over the past six years, our salaries have been eroded in real terms by an average of –1.1% per year, amounting to a cumulative real-term cut of –6.8%. The current Salary Adjustment Procedure (SAP) has clearly failed to compensate for increases in the cost of living.
Yet, during the Administrative Council meeting in December 2025, the President was able to boast about the fact that productivity has increased by +11% in the last three years, all while maintaining “social peace”.
In January, staff began to challenge that social peace through coordinated strikes and a work-to-rule action plan. In response to SUEPO’s industrial action plan, management amended its SAP proposal by introducing a yearly cash lump sum, which they claimed would “mitigate” any potential gap with local inflation.
We are not misled. A one-year lump sum payment is negligible compared to the long- term losses affecting our salaries and pensions for the remainder of our careers and retirement. The amendment shows, however, that management recognises both the purchasing power problem and the growing staff unrest.
This did not happen by chance. It happened because staff acted together. Without the pressure created by strikes and work-to-rule participation, there would be no incentive for management to adjust their proposal. That said, the current proposal remains far from satisfactory.
Where we stand now
The two strike days organised so far this year saw strong participation with 1 577 and 1507 colleagues joining in January and February, respectively. The reduced capacity resulting from strikes and the continuing work-to-rule actions affect the production, which is around 2 000 products below plan. This clearly signals dissatisfaction, but we must send an even stronger message to influence the Administrative Council, ahead of its March meeting and the June decision. If we want a fair outcome that genuinely maintains purchasing power, we must intensify our efforts. This means maintaining and strengthening the industrial action, including reducing production as much as your situation allows at least until the next Administrative Council end of March, and, if necessary, until the decision is taken in the Administrative Council meeting in June.
Participation in industrial action is neither a waste of time nor money. The cumulative losses we have suffered since the current SAP was introduced six years ago would have financed the equivalent of 100 days of strike per EPO employee. Such a strong industrial action would have undoubtedly led the administration to improve the SAP and we could have prevented the long-term salary and pension cuts we have suffered.
Joining the actions now is an investment in our future salaries and pensions. The progress already achieved demonstrates that management responds to strength and to clear, united signals.
What’s next
The final warning strike on Thursday, 19 March, and continued industrial action are not symbolic gestures. They are practical tools that have already delivered measurable results. The question now is whether we will prove the Office right in their assumption that staff will soon lose momentum or will we continue, together, until we achieve a satisfactory outcome.
Divided, we fall. United, we shift the negotiation in our favour. Now is the time to stand firm, united and solidary.
Kind regards,
your SUEPO The Hague Committee
There will be two strikes this month. Maybe even more. Shall the need arise.
The second strike had 1,507 joining, almost the same as the first. █