Increasing Participation Rates in Staff Representatives' Elections at the European Patent Office (EPO)
The Staff Union of the EPO (SUEPO) or the staff at the European Patent Office (EPO), including those who are not in the union or cannot afford to join the union (EPO management made is harder to join by paying new people a lot less), is happy to see increased interest in collective action. Recently the elections ended and members of the Local Staff Committee Munich, Haar & Brussels (LSCMN) told staff:
Thank you for your trust and support
Staff Committee Elections 2026
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the Local Staff Committee Munich, we would like to thank you for voting in the election of your staff representatives.
The high turnout, which is up compared to the previous election (with a participation rate of over 55,21% versus 48,3% in 2023), further strengthens the next Local Staff Committee for the next three years.
We thank you for your vote and your trust, which both obligate and motivate us to ensure your voice is heard by the administration.
It is quite a significant increase. To those involved in the process a letter was sent, then shared by LSCMN:
OPEN LETTER
LSC Munich thanks the members of the Election committee
Dear Colleagues, Dear xxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxx and xxxxxxxx,
On behalf of the outgoing Local Staff Committee Munich, we would like to thank you for your excellent work on the Election Committee. This year, for the second time since the ILO Judgment 4482, the elections have been organised by the Election Committee. Through your professionalism, independence, and both individual and collective qualities, you have demonstrated that the mandate was in good hands.
Your work ensures that the elected staff representation can fully fulfil the statutory roles assigned to it. The high turnout, which is up compared to the previous election (with a participation rate of over 55%), further strengthens the representativeness of the next Local Staff Committee, whose mandate is thus reinforced for the next three years.
With gratitude,
The members of the Local Staff Committee Munich
The letter thanking the Election Committee has names removed intentionally. It's dated yesterday.
Today, i.e. a day later, a similar communication was sent to colleagues in The Hague.
It says:
Dear members, dear colleagues,Thank you for participating in the elections of the Local Staff Committee!
By electing 16 SUEPO Team candidates, staff demonstrated the trust they place in SUEPO’s work and sent a clear message that the workforce stands firmly behind their union. This is a strong mandate to continue defending staff interests with the same dedication and commitment.
The election results also send a clear message to management in the context of the ongoing industrial actions: staff expect their voices to be heard and their concerns to be taken seriously.
Thank you once again for your trust, engagement and support.
Your SUEPO TH committee
The industrial actions seem to have brought colleagues closer together. Tomorrow there is a strike again ("anchor day"). █