*Update 02.12.2024 here’s the official announcement of the 2024 annual update of remuneration and pensions**Update 21.11.2024 check out the European Court of Auditors, 2024, Special report 24/2024: EU Civil service–A flexible employment framework, insufficiently used to improve workforce management: it concludes that Continue reading Ispra Correction Coefficient
Ispra-Seville
ISPRA : Access to Health Care in Italy – Sick of Waiting
Equal and unrestricted access to affordable health care services – this is a prime objective and a non-negotiable right for all Commission staff and all Joint sickness insurance scheme (JSIS) affiliates irrespective of nationality. Yet this right is increasingly being compromised for the Ispra staff and their families, who are not in possession of the national health insurance card, the tessera sanitaria.
Continue reading ISPRA : Access to Health Care in Italy – Sick of Waiting
ISPRA CANTEEN: Starving for Solutions
While the pandemic spelled doom for many of the Commission’s canteens on different sites, the Ispra canteen recovered remarkably well from the effects of Covid, not least thanks to the efforts and dedication of its staff. This success is now under threat. And this time it is not a pandemic, but a combination of delayed decisions Continue reading ISPRA CANTEEN: Starving for Solutions
From Paper to Digital: A voting practice update is necessary
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is one of the largest directorates-general (DGs) in the Commission. With its scientific profile it takes pride in its innovative and modern endeavours. JRC practices the remote way of working, in line with the Commission guidelines, but also benefits from it to foster cooperation among its multisite structure of 6 locations across Europe.
Continue reading From Paper to Digital: A voting practice update is necessary
Electric vehicle (EV) charging-point disparity
*Update 14.10.2024 Luxembourg-based colleagues, the maximum reimbursement (‘ceiling’) for cross-border commuter passes has been doubled to €500 from 01.10.2024.*
*Update 24.07.2024 the Green Commuting Communication for staff in Brussels mentions the ongoing provision of FREE EV charging there, with no end date in sight. There is no date as yet for EV charging to be made available (free or otherwise) in Luxembourg buildings. The same text proposes to pay Brussels-based colleagues who cycle €100 per year. We asked about provision for other sites, but the response was negative. Why the inconsistency? Mixed messages on greening undermine the whole idea.* Continue reading Electric vehicle (EV) charging-point disparity
Meet up in Seville! 20-23.02.2024
*Update 21.02.2024: we are available at 001/A40 all day if you want to drop by and talk to us.* Original article: Generation 2004 colleagues from many different Commission sites will be in Seville from Tuesday (20. 02.2024) to Friday (23.02.2024). We will update this page with dates, times and places. Come along and tell us what you think needs to improve, what’s not working or even what you see as going well. What would you like to see change? How about how well JRC topics and tasks are distributed between the JRC sites? Come and tell us about the new JRC building plans and what they mean for you. We can tell you about the recent building moves elsewhere and what questions we need to ask. Continue reading Meet up in Seville! 20-23.02.2024
Is e-voting the right tool for the JRC?
*Update 23.20.2024 HR says its not feasible to have e-voting at Geel and Karlsruhe, once more money is cited as a factor, are we surprised?*
Original article: Digitalisation is everywhere: we pay electronically, we get our news and movies digitally and we even meet online. While some types of human interaction would, ideally, never be replaced, many routine administrative activities can certainly benefit from going digital. Nevertheless, it’s important to include those who will use new systems and procedures in the decision-making process: while we might save on queuing with e-Voting, are we maybe missing out somewhere else? Continue reading Is e-voting the right tool for the JRC?
The annual medical check-up: the ‘new normal’
*Update 03.03.2023 clarification of the changes announced for mid-February: tests previously covered by «bons roses»[*] are now to be done via the health screening programme in order to be reimbursed at 100% e.g. a gynecological check up.*[**]
Original article: We start with some context: the annual medical check-up, that obligation that is not generally enforced, is done by only around 1/3 of staff [1]. Why might this be? Well, cost is an issue: while the check-up itself and associated laboratory tests are normally reimbursed at 100%, anything stemming from that check-up (‘diagnostic examinations’ or ‘additional treatments’, for example) will be reimbursed in the normal way (85% up to set ceilings which may or may not correspond to reality, we hear you Luxembourg [2]). Continue reading The annual medical check-up: the ‘new normal’
Promising and selling unicorns
*This article was published in November 2021 in response to promises made during Brussels, Karlsruhe and Ispra elections. Here are the Karlsruhe 2021 results.*
On allowances to cover the additional costs of teleworking and other promises
It is election time for many sites of the Commission and there are two unmistakable signs for this:
- Your inbox is filling with largely indistinguishable e-mails asking to vote for union X or union Y, because they have done SO MUCH for you in the last year (although for some of them, you cannot remember ever having seen any action or results).
- The e-mails contain a hodgepodge of measures that they are demanding, often defying any sense of reality: unicorns, rainbows, a guaranteed lottery win …
Wake-up call for the administration – Voter apathy and low voter turnout
The local staff committee (LSC) elections for outside the Union, Ispra/Seville and Brussels have all had to be extended (see below).
For outside the Union the issues raised are long standing. Continue reading Wake-up call for the administration – Voter apathy and low voter turnout
