- Generation2004 has been participating in the Local Staff Committee elections in the COMMISSION IN LUXEMBOURG and in the European Parliament. In Luxembourg, Generation2004 scored 19.96% of the votes which is a remarkable result for a group that entered the election campaign only three weeks ago. However, due to the design of the voting system, which in our view rewards excessively the formation of majorities, this figure translates only into 2 seats out of 20 (i.e. 10%), while proportionality would have justified 4. We firmly believe that this electoral system with its incomprehensible vote counting, gerrymandered (or tailor-made) for one single big union ‒ who got (only) 36% of votes, but took 65% of the seats (13 all together) ‒ should be radically changed.
Newsletter #1 – Dec 2013
Brussels Local Staff Committee: Generation2004’s Pascal Le Grand has been elected President
- Our member Pascal Le Grand (DG ENV) has been elected President of the Local Staff Committee in Brussels. He replaces Daniela Mormile who resigned from the post according to a rotation agreement among the leading lists. Pascal’s main objective for the coming months is to make the work of the LSC more efficient and transparent. WE WISH HIM ALL THE BEST!
Future work: we need a reform that deserves its name
- ‘After the Reform’ is also ‘Before the Reform’: Since the 2014 reform misses to address any of the 2004 failures, Generation2004 will continue to work towards a true reform of the staff regulations, one that will make the European Public Service a model for others rather than a subject of scorn and ridicule. To be sure, this will take a lot of patience and hard work, but the extent of the damage done in 2004 and now 2014 demands an in-depth re-working of the whole affair. This cannot be left to the administration and the Council! We as staff have to act, to strengthen our own reform agenda, and to take a leading and not a defensive position on the battle field. To achieve this, we need to be active, creative, determined and numerous. JOIN GENERATION2004!
Continue reading Future work: we need a reform that deserves its name
Implementing rules for the Staff Regulations: progress is a snail
Drafts for some of the implementing rules for the new staff regulations have been published by DG HR. Generation2004 has commented extensively and made a number of suggestions for real improvements. So far the administration is blocking any real changes and wants an in-depth discussion to be postponed to next year. WE ARE MAINTAINING THE PRESSURE.
Internal competitions (ICs) and promotions: bad habits never die
- Participation rates of up to 28 colleagues per post (a mere 3% probability of success…) in the internal competitions demonstrate the urgent need for a comprehensive and holistic remedy to the injustice brought about by the 2004 reform and its aftermath. Moreover, figures also show that the probability of success varies widely between grades and fields. Generally speaking, the higher your starting grade, the higher your chances. Also, choosing HR and budget management as your field was apparently a good idea. Another inexplicable feature of these ICs is the imposed minimum grades, comparable only with introducing minimum income as eligibility criteria in open competitions. Generation2004 is working on an in-depth assessment of the ICs which will give more details and also highlight the major shortcoming of the IC in comparison to the Generation2004 proposal tabled earlier this year.
Continue reading Internal competitions (ICs) and promotions: bad habits never die
Outcome of the staff regulations reform: much ado about (almost) nothing
- Since its (official) foundation last year, Generation2004 has been heavily involved in the staff regulation reform on all levels and on all fronts. Unlike others, our activities mainly focused on Member States. During several meetings with a number of permanent representations, we demonstrated clearly how the burden of the 2004 reform had been largely carried by post-2004 staff, who therefore should be spared this time round. For obvious reasons, Generation2004 was virtually the only staff association to do so and encountered an astounding level of unawareness. If anything, this has helped to convince Member States that their initial demands were unreasonable and counterproductive.
Continue reading Outcome of the staff regulations reform: much ado about (almost) nothing
