*Update 14.03.2023 DGT staff meeting Luxembourg 09.03.2023 the acting DG stated that the only element of standby duty which is voluntary (yes, this there is a bit of mental gymnastics in a duty being voluntary) is that the translator has some flexibility in the choice of week. That is, this is official confirmation of what was stated in the 2019 Central Staff Committee note 18/12/2019 (2019)7798989: ‘The scheme is ‘voluntary’ in that it is stated that staff are not obliged to be on standby. In practice staff report that they feel obliged to ‘volunteer’ in order to share the burden with colleagues.’ Note also that compensation is ‘up to middle managers'(Article 55(3) requires a more detailed system than this.**Update 19.12.2022, congratulations on finishing the Permanent Delegation of Translators (DPT) elections and we note with concern the suggested plan to fit Brussels DGT staff to the available space in any new building, as opposed to finding a building to fit the number of staff.* Continue reading Follow-up special DGT meeting
Institutions
EEAS: discriminatory treatment of AST/SC staff
Unfortunately, we have yet another example of circumstances where our secretary and clerk (AST/SC) colleagues are again treated unfairly, this time not within the Commission itself, but in the European External Action Service (EEAS) with its 144 EU Delegations around the world, specifically when it comes to applying for jobs there (‘postings’). We remind you that AST/SC is the smallest, most restricted and newest of all three function groups for officials, it’s been around only 8 years: it was created by the 2014 staff regulation reform. Continue reading EEAS: discriminatory treatment of AST/SC staff
No work-life balance for colleagues in Delegations?
While the flexible working arrangements such as offsetting and recuperating working hours (‘flexitime’) and working from home are implemented for Member States and headquarters (HQ), as of today, colleagues in 144 Delegations around the world still have no legal basis to telework. This issue has been flagged multiple times in different meetings with management and a social dialogue was planned to be concluded in September 2022. As of today, still, nothing. Continue reading No work-life balance for colleagues in Delegations?
Hybrid working guidelines for DGs and Delegations, what should we expect?
*Update 10.03.2023 in January 2023 the Commission abandoned its draft guidelines in favour of reworking the frequently asked questions (FAQs).*
Generation 2004 firmly believes that the EU institutions should focus on impact and output rather than the means of work. When the pandemic has shown that, for many roles, teleworking can be as effective as office presence (and is considered equivalent), why does the EU appear to prefer to go back in time? Why burden colleagues with again finding balance, having to revamp their schedules and routines with the associated stresses in order to be present in their place of employment rather than letting them continue to telework in peace, efficiently, effectively, and happily? Continue reading Hybrid working guidelines for DGs and Delegations, what should we expect?
Deadline 31.03.2022: LA employment-conditions reform
The latest deadline extension for Local agents to decide whether they would like to accept the new Local Agent conditions expires 31 March 2022. The conditions of employment are available for colleagues who were already in service since December 2020.
Continue reading Deadline 31.03.2022: LA employment-conditions reform
Please support colleagues in Kyiv, Ukraine
*Please sign to support our note on action to take for our Kyiv colleagues* The war on Ukraine by the Russian Federation, which started on Thursday 24 February, will have a dramatic impact on the lives of our colleagues employed in Ukraine. We know that the EEAS formed a crisis-management working group for the emergency evacuation from Kabul in 2021. Generation 2004 would like to enquire whether similar arrangements have been put in place in Ukraine, if not, we strongly recommend to do it. Continue reading Please support colleagues in Kyiv, Ukraine
It’s really simple after all: introduction to the staff representation for colleagues in Delegations
All colleagues in Delegation, (including Commission colleagues), must vote in April 2022, even those who already voted in December 2021. All colleagues in Delegation have the unusual situation of participating in two elections (levels 1 and 2: see ‘the staff representation structure and elections’ table below). EEAS Colleagues will have their EEAS staff committee election at the end of 2022. [1] Continue reading It’s really simple after all: introduction to the staff representation for colleagues in Delegations
How should Teleworking evolve in Delegations after Covid?
Many of you wonder, since there is no legal basis for teleworking in Delegations, what will happen when the pandemic is over?
Will we still have Teleworking in Delegations?
Will we finally follow the rest of the Commission: teleworking has already been in force in Headquarters and other EU sites for more than 10 years! Continue reading How should Teleworking evolve in Delegations after Covid?
Internal competitions: EU institutions doing it differently
*Update 19.02.2025: ‘By default, all [internal] competitions will be cross-category.’ (Stay tuned: A new approach for internal competitions) This is excellent news and should now put the Commission on an even footing with the Parliament and other EU institutions. We hope that this inclusion is genuine and that the competitions are not otherwise skewed to reduce participation.* Continue reading Internal competitions: EU institutions doing it differently
Thanks for your support for colleagues in Afghanistan!
Thanks very much to the colleagues who joined our petition and expressed their support and solidarity. We acknowledge also the huge effort made by the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Commission to provide information and updates in this very extreme situation : they reacted quickly to sort through the avalanche of information they received and take appropriate action. Continue reading Thanks for your support for colleagues in Afghanistan!
