The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported in its article of 23 November 2014 on the continuing social unrest at the EPO and the demonstration in the streets in Munich.
Translations in English and French can be found by scrolling through the document.
Strikes at the EPO continue. On Tuesday 2 December, additionally, demonstrations will take place in The Netherlands and Germany in support of two colleagues who are facing disciplinary procedures for their work as staff representatives.
In The Netherlands EPO staff will demonstrate at 11.00h in front of the French Embassy in The Hague (Anna Paulownastraat 76, next to the Vredespaleis). From there staff will march towards the Danish Embassy (Koninginnegracht 30 in The Hague). This demonstration is meant to support their two threatened colleagues, respectively French and Danish, and to defend EPO staff's basic rights.
It is worth noting that the two organs of the European Patent Organisation, the EPO and the Administrative Council (AC), are respectively under the lead of French and Danish nationals: Mr Battistelli (EPO President) and Mr Kongstad (AC Chairman).
In Germany EPO staff will gather at 13.00h in front of the EPO Pschorrhöfe buildings in Munich to march to the local Palace of Justice (Prielmayerstra?e).
The strike and demonstrations underline staff's claims to respect of the Rule of Law, Freedom of Association and to good faith negotiation of ongoing reforms.
General information on the EPO and the present social conflict can be found in this document.
The social unrest at the EPO continues as described in the article of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, "Aufstand gegen den Sonnenkönig".
A similar article was published in the paper version of this newspaper. A translation in English can be found by scrolling through the document.
On Thurday 20 November, 700 employees of the EPO marched in the streets in Munich and demonstrated in front of the French consulate.
The staff of the EPO has voted in a strike ballot organised by the office with a majority of 85% and an overall 52 % participation. Staff of the EPO will therefore be on strike in November and December 2014 for
SUEPO has addressed patent attorneys and recommended them to ask for a postponement of the Oral Proceedings if any are scheduled on one of the strike days.A sample letter which has been addressed to them can be found here.
Earlier this year, Mr Jean-Yves Le Conte, member of the French Senate, published in his blog the letter he addressed to French Ministers in France.
In his letter, Mr Le Conte expresses his concerns regarding the problems of governance and stategy at the EPO: "The level of the remunerations for the personnel of the EPO cannot serve as justification for the degradation in their working conditions, in the exercise of employees’ rights, and the protection of the private lives of individuals, which are currently under attack."
A copy of the document can be found here as well as translations in English, German and Dutch by scrolling through the document.
Following the suspension of Mr Kateb, President of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) staff council, United Nations commissioners sent a letter addressed to Mr Gurry, President of WIPO.The UN commissioners speak in their capacity as Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, and as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.
In its article of 11.11.2014 titled "Gurry urged to reinstate axed WIPO staff representative", World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR) reports on this letter.
World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR) published an article on 04.11.2014 about the suspension of a former member of the Internal Appeals Committee (IAC). The IAC is the body that oversees disputes over decisions that affect staff members. But in recent months, management at the EPO and staff have disagreed on the way it should be run.
It is not known what the exact reason for the suspension is but it is "linked to the former activities" of the staff member in the IAC.
"As a reward for hard work and his commitment to justice and a fair appeals system, Mr Battistelli has now suspended him in what looks like an act of revenge." says SUEPO.
Philip Cordery, member of the French Parliament, has published an article about the new policy of Mr Battistelli concerning staff unions at the EPO and especially the confiscation of the Office rooms used by unions.
In his view, this decision is a severe attack against the rights of staff unions and asks the EPO administration to reconsider its decision and enter transparent and construtive dialogue with union representatives.
Until now, Mr Battistelli has refused to talk to SUEPO and rejected a conciliation procedure in Court.