More Than 90% in European Patent Office (EPO) Ballot Vote for Continuation of Industrial Actions/Strikes, About Half Wish to Further Intensify These
Ballot results on intensification of actions
Yesterday an update was circulated regarding the ongoing EPO strikes. The following was sent to colleagues, including union members:
Action Plan 2026 updated to stop the salary erosion of EPO staff
Dear SUEPO members,
Dear Colleagues,
Mr Campinos maintains his proposal for a new salary adjustment procedure eroding the salaries, pensions and benefits of EPO staff. Despite the flaws in the proposal which foresees no end in the erosion, the delegates in the Budget and Finance Committee meeting of 20 and 21 May nevertheless gave a positive opinion in preparation of the Administrative Council meeting of 30 June and 1 July.
Later this year, the Administrative Council will meet on 13 and 14 October to decide on the re-election of Mr Campinos for a third mandate. The new salary erosion procedure is part of his strategy to obtain the necessary support from the delegates.
From 8 to 14 June, SUEPO Munich and The Hague consulted their active members through a ballot to seek a mandate for continuing/intensifying the industrial action plan until 16 October.
Continuation of Work-To-Rule
Of the 428 voters, 398 have voted in favour and 30 were against.
Intensification of strikes
Of the 428 voters, 202 voted in favour of intensifying by allowing strikes all week days (rolling strikes like in The Hague), 153 voted in favour continuing with Monday and Friday Strikes and 73 were against.
Mandate was therefore given to SUEPO Munich to update the action plan. In order to maintain a balance between the different wishes of the members, the plan is the following as of 15 June 2026 and until 16 October:
Work-To-Rule continues
All week days are days of “rolling strike” where staff is free to strike
Mondays and Fridays remain “recommended days” for a maximum number of staff to strike
We remind of the
Demonstration on Thursday 30 June in front of the Isar building, all Munich staff is invited and staff from other places of employment will also join
They cannot ignore us if we stand together
They've already circulated this sort of "calendar" for further actions:
This is from SUEPO Munich, but the text above also refers to workers based outside Germany. █