How Strikes at the European Patent Office Are Seen by Striking Staff in Berlin, Germany

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Sep 06, 2026

There's action not only in Munich

As noted this morning, citing the Staff Union of the EPO (SUEPO) in Berlin, almost everyone voting on the current industrial action/s is supportive or neutral. Weaponisation of PIPs got a mention 5-6 wees ago. The dictatorship in Germany is trying to crush the workers while greenwashing and telling all sorts of lies to whatever is left of the media.

So how did it all come about? Well, at the end of last year it was decided actions would commence.

SUEPO's arm in Berlin told "SUEPO Members" that "The Local Section Berlin of SUEPO held a General Assembly on 13 November 2025. The members noted the impact of the current salary adjustment method on their purchasing power, which has significantly declined between 2020 and 2026. The General Assembly unanimously mandated the Local Bureau Berlin of SUEPO to coordinate and organise, together with the other Local Bureaus, the preparations for industrial action. The President and the Chair of the Administrative Council have been informed by this open letter."

This is the letter from the Local Bureau Berlin:

INTERNATIONALE GEWERKSCHAFT IM EUROPÄISCHEN PATENTAMT
STAFF UNION OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE
UNION SYNDICALE DE L'OFFICE EUROPEEN DES BREVETS

Ortssektion Berlin
Local Section Berlin
Section locale de Berlin

17 November 2025 su25001bp – 0.2.1

Mr António Campinos
President of the EPO

– by email –

in copy: Mr Josef Kratochvíl
Chair of the Administrative Council of the EPOrg

OPEN LETTER

Mandate to coordinate and organise preparations for industrial action

Dear Mr Campinos,

The Local Section Berlin of SUEPO held a General Assembly on 13 November 2025. The members took note of the effects of the current salary adjustment method, particularly the significant decline in the purchasing power of their salaries over the period 2020 to 2026. This development stands in stark contrast to the sustained hard work of the staff, which has led to marked increase in production and productivity. The Assembly also recognised the substantially improved – now excellent – financial situation of the Office.

It is troubling that more than a thousand legal cases had to be initiated by SUEPO members because of the inadequate legal and technical quality of the current method. Staff and pensioners will now have to wait several years for the corresponding judgments.

In view of the upcoming discussions in the Administrative Council on a new salary adjustment method, the members expect that the damage already incurred by staff will be remedied. Moreover, any new method must reliably maintain the purchasing power of salaries and must fully comply with the legal and technical standards applied by other international organisations.

Therefore, the General Assembly unanimously mandated the Local Bureau Berlin of SUEPO to coordinate and organise, together with the other Local Bureaus, the preparations for industrial action. We nonetheless remain open to constructive dialogue and would appreciate continued contact with you.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Kempen

Chair of Local Bureau Berlin of SUEPO

Almost a year later nothing has improved. We've exposed many EPO scandals and it turned out that Campinos implicitly said (or silently indicated) that it's OK to do cocaine if you give him your sister. It's gross, it's illegal, but this is what the German state is willing to tolerate to keep the EPO on its soil. It's all about money, at all cost!

Earlier this year, during summer, the Berlin representation shared some numerical information about consent for the ongoing industrial action/s, scheduled to carry on until the end of this year and maybe next year as well.

Result of the ballot - Industrial action plan adopted

Dear Members of SUEPO Berlin,

On 18 June 2026, the Extraordinary General Assembly decided, in line with § 5(c)2 of the Statute,

- on a quorum that requires at least 50% of members in active service to have taken part in the ballot, and

- that a simple majority would be necessary

to approve a plan for the continuation of industrial action.

The result of the secret ballot, which took place from 19 to 24 June 2026, on the attached plan for the continuation of industrial action is as follows.

Members in active service: 107
Ballots cast: 74 (≈69%)
Necessary quorum: ≥54

Results to approve the action plan:
Yes: 64
No: 1
Abstention: 9

With a participation rate of ≈69%, the necessary quorum was significantly exceeded. The simple majority was also achieved since more votes in favour were cast than against.

The attached action plan has therefore been adopted as industrial action. The President has been informed accordingly.

All active members of SUEPO Berlin are called upon to participate in the industrial action. Thank you for your support.

Best regards,
Your Local Bureau SUEPO Berlin

We have some more EPO scandals to cover later this year and next year. We publish material at the pace that seems effective. █

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Image source: Charlottenburg Palace Equestrian statue ans tower of the palace in Berlin, Germany (O3069443-DvL3)

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