We asked you to send us your stories and here is the first one. A Colleague was diagnosed with a precancerous lesion. Although probably benign, it was growing quickly, showing micro calcifications, opacities, ragged edges, and highly heterogeneous appearance. The doctors concluded that it must be removed as soon as possible as it could easily become a malignant tumour (if that was not already the case) especially considering the colleague’s age group. Continue reading It happened to me! Schrödinger’s reimbursement
Local Staff Committee
Housing prices in Luxembourg – the state takes action for renters
*Update 03.07.2025 here’s an updated list of available state aid in Luxembourg and an older checklist: use what you’re entitled to!*
Original article: In the absence of any real action on the issue of Luxembourg housing costs from the EU institutions, assistance is now available from the Luxembourgish state for those on lower incomes (for Luxembourg(!)[1]) who are renting. The subsidy is between €200 and €400 per month, depending on take-home pay and how many children there are in your household. Looking at our salary scales, and depending on individual circumstances, this might help staff in all function groups and categories, but particularly our contract agent (CA), assistant (AST) and secretaries and clerks (AST/SC) colleagues. Continue reading Housing prices in Luxembourg – the state takes action for renters
Housing prices in Luxembourg – the Commission is fully committed to doing nothing
*Update 12.04.2024 confirms it will continue to rely on state aid for accommodation in Luxembourg here is a list of that aid.* Original article: Colleagues in Luxembourg are well aware of the housing situation there: prices are so high that an increasing number of colleagues are unable to afford accommodation in or close to the city of Luxembourg. Generation 2004 has raised this point repeatedly and so we were very eager to see what (if any) measures the Commission might propose in its report to the Parliament and the Council on the application of the salary method (document COM(2022) 180 final). Calling this report a disappointment would be an understatement: dear Commissioner Hahn, if you don’t want to do anything for the colleagues in Luxembourg, just say so and don’t put up smokescreens. That would at least be an honest statement, instead of the current beating around the bush. Continue reading Housing prices in Luxembourg – the Commission is fully committed to doing nothing
Outcome of the latest vote on electoral reform in Luxembourg
So the road ahead for the Luxembourg local staff committee (LSC) for the November 2022 elections is set: there will indeed be a change to the current (2016) election rules. The proposed ‘fully proportional system’ (‘FPS’) will be used. A 66.6% majority is enough for a change of the rules: this proposal received 72%.
The first of two Luxembourg LSC general assemblies (GAs) was to vote on two different proposals to reform the electoral system for the next Luxembourg LSC elections. This follows hot on the heels of the two proposals from May 2022. Our analysis showed that both of these latest proposals were based on proportional systems, so they would undoubtedly offer certain improvements over the present winner-takes-all (‘majority’) system. Nevertheless, one of the latest proposals was unnecessarily complex and the other would benefit from a final review. So, we were in a dilemma: grab the opportunity to introduce a potentially flawed but more proportional system, even at the risk of running into problems with hastily stitched-together proposals, or refuse this ill-timed attempt, stay with the current rules for – given the time constraints – one last time, and leave the matter to the new LSC? We left the decision in your hands. Continue reading Outcome of the latest vote on electoral reform in Luxembourg
Yet another Luxembourg general assembly? What is going on?
*Point C of the dedicated factsheet contains voting instructions* Luxembourg local staff committee (LSC) has two, yes two(!) general assemblies (GAs) in the space of a week. You may recall that the Luxembourg LSC held a general assembly fairly recently, in May 2022. The purpose of that May GA was to vote on two proposals to change the electoral system for the LSC elections (due to happen in November 2022). One proposal was from Generation 2004 and one from Ensemble Luxembourg. While everyone agrees that the current (2016) system needs to be changed, it has proven difficult to find consensus on how exactly it should be changed. Here’s our analysis of the May proposals. Unfortunately, our May proposal did not pass, and neither did the other one. Continue reading Yet another Luxembourg general assembly? What is going on?
Council request to further reduce spending on staff
*Update 22.03.2023: see our article on the latest council request to reduce spending on staff. *Update 21.09.2022 : all representatives OSPs met with the Cabinet on the Commission response to the Council.* Continue reading Council request to further reduce spending on staff
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?
Prioritize internal Local Agents recruitment in EU Delegations
As noticed by many colleagues in Delegations, the recruitment procedures for vacant posts for Local Agents are advertised internally and externally at the same time. One cannot avoid asking: Why would management search by default for candidates externally, instead of first providing a path of career growth to its existing talent?
We believe that unless a Delegation is extremely small, there is always the possibility to fill the post by internal candidates. Continue reading Prioritize internal Local Agents recruitment in EU Delegations
A new electoral system in Luxembourg – so close yet so far
Regular readers of our newsletter might remember that Generation 2004, together with several other trade unions, has tried to change the electoral rules for Luxembourg in the past – and it did not work out. But we are used to fighting long up-hill battles, so of course we tried again in the recent general assembly in Luxembourg.
Unlike last time, we did not arrive at a consensus with the other trade unions to present just one common proposal: instead, staff was presented with two proposals! Please read the summary of our proposal, including a comparison with the other proposal (it includes links to the full text of both proposals). Continue reading A new electoral system in Luxembourg – so close yet so far
General assembly in Luxembourg to change the electoral rules – please vote!
*Update: neither of the proposals was successful.* On Monday, 16 May 2022, colleagues in Luxembourg will meet in a General Assembly to change the electoral rules for Luxembourg. This is not a new topic: Generation 2004 has considered for a long time that the current rules are flawed. We tried to change the rules in 2019, but missed the required 2/3-majority (not by much, though). We have learned from this and have incorporated the feedback received into our new proposal. Continue reading General assembly in Luxembourg to change the electoral rules – please vote!
