z Newsletter article

General Implementation Provisions for Contract Agents: a compromise which leads NOWHERE

Contract Agents, Newsletter #20 - Dec 2016, z Newsletter article Print This Post

The saga of the discussions on the General Implementing Provisions (GIP) for Contract Agents (CA) seems to have lasted for ages. Generation 2004 has followed it for you in a number of articles (see here and here).

The culmination came some weeks ago at a meeting of the social dialogue chaired by VP Georgieva (concertation politique in French) – one of her last actions before her departure to the World Bank.

Generation 2004 expressed a position that is crystal clear. The so-called compromise is NOT acceptable to us. It fails to address our main concern: the new initial classification grid for CAs which we see as the core of the problem. Continue reading General Implementation Provisions for Contract Agents: a compromise which leads NOWHERE →

Promotions: adapted Article 90 template available in January

Newsletter #20 - Dec 2016, Promotions, z Newsletter article Print This Post

Every year G2004 provides support to members but also colleagues irrespectively of their trade union affiliation in defending their rights in the framework of promotions exercise. We congratulate everyone who received their welldeserved promotion this year. For those of you who did not find their names on the list of promoted officials for 2016 we offer our support for an article 90 appeal. During this year’s exercise G2004 representatives in the Promotions Committees deposited an objection note (for AD and AST) which will give additional factual weight to the claims of all who decide to launch an appeal. Our new adapted template will be available in January.

What you don’t know surely can hurt you!

Newsletter #20 - Dec 2016, z Newsletter article Print This Post

DG HR is desperately trying to cut costs… Nothing new.
But for those of you who anticipate the usual enrolment message for spring language courses this may come as a surprise – NO MESSAGE this time.

The enrolment has started in cautious silence, hoping that as many colleagues as possible will miss the deadline to introduce their request for language training before they leave for Christmas… and it will be too late when they are back as the end date for registration is 8 January 2017.

A suspicious mind could also ask why the new learning platform (to replace Syslog) is introduced during this same period. Even if you decide to enrol – there is a high risk that you will get lost in the new system.

Sorry to have once again disrupted DG HR’s plan.

Generation 2004 is here to give you all the information you need. This is what you have to do if you wish to enrol for the standard language courses February – June 2017:

  • From MyIntracomm Top Tools go to EU learn.
  • Open Catalogue menu, search for Interinstitutional catalogue, then Languages and country knowledge. Find your location (Brussels, Luxembourg, etc.) and the language you need.
  • And do this before 8 January 2017!

Luxembourg Mathematics: 25 = 70

Features, Newsletter #20 - Dec 2016, z Newsletter article Print This Post

The Election of the new Local Staff Committee of Luxembourg (LSC) took place at the end of November with a turn-out of almost 70%. Generation 2004 scored some 18.8% of votes, which translates into 2 seats out of 20. We would like to thank all those who voted for us. Despite the increase in the number of lists that were presented to the elections this time, we are the only list that has maintained our score achieved 3 years ago. As a result, we still send two representatives (full member and deputy) to the Central Staff Committee, and we will keep roughly the same representation in the Joint Committees (e.g. promotion committees). Continue reading Luxembourg Mathematics: 25 = 70 →

Surprise Surprise! Mr. Barroso gets a job in the private sector!

Newsletter #19 – Nov 2016, z Newsletter article Print This Post

Mr. Barroso, Ms. Kroes, Ms. Reding, how many other top EU officials have moved to the private sector despite the risk of conflict of interest?

The debate is already there for the EU public (see here an example).

Whether conflict of interest is perceived or real does not matter in the end, it is damaging the reputation of the Commission. Is the Commission ready and willing to act before we lose what’s left of political sympathies in the EU? Or is it already too late?

Generation 2004 thinks it is not too late and that the Commission should immediately start working on damage limitation. For that purpose, we ask the Commission to communicate all names of ex commissioners, directors general, directors as well as the names of all those who have had a managerial and/or adviser post in the recent past, i.e. those who are in a situation of possible conflict of interest. This information is already partially available on the internet here but because it is hidden in a pile of irrelevant bullshit, most people are totally unaware of it.

Let’s be transparent, and make available the names of those who are at risk of conflict of interest to the general public, in an open and convincing manner. In our era of wikileaks and the like, transparency usually gives better results and is much more appreciated than being secretive. The Commission does not have anything to hide, does it?

Breaking news: 3.5% pay raise for EU staff

Newsletter #19 – Nov 2016, yearly salary update, z Newsletter article Print This Post

Let’s start with the good news: After several years of abstinence during the first part of this decade, EU staff is going to receive a 3.5% pay rise on their December payslip1. 1.9% of this rise is due to the indexation on general salary increases in the public services of EU Member States (based on a basket of 11 MS) and 1.4% because of inflation in Brussels/Luxembourg. The remaining 0.2% will come from a decrease in our pension contribution. The bad news is that the budget for this Continue reading Breaking news: 3.5% pay raise for EU staff →

Parking Spaces

Mobility and Climate, Newsletter #19 – Nov 2016, z Newsletter article Print This Post

You might have seen the communication from/between some trade unions about their reserved parking spaces in the building that hosts the staff representation. Generation 2004 has better things to do than waste its time in these endless disputes. However, for the record, we would like to recall that we took a very clear position more than 2 years ago on this issue: no reserved parking space for anyone1, not even staff representatives. We are against any sort of unjustified privilege and we practice what we preach. Logically G2004 does not have any reserved spaces. We take a certain pride in seeing that some unions are joining us on this position, albeit with a 2-year delay… A shame that DG HR did not respond to our demand 2 years ago.

Let’s hope that the current controversy will now lead DG HR to reconsider its position and abolish reserved parking spaces. Some of these saved parking spaces could for instance be converted into proper locker rooms and showers for the increasing number of cyclists and for colleagues, who go running or who want to work out during their lunch break. These are sorely missing, particularly in the buildings where the upper floor of the parking deck is reserved for the trade unions (spaces which according to colleagues stand mostly empty anyway…).

1) http://generation2004.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/G2004-Newsletter-no-5.pdf, page 4.

You are hired/fired: Recruitment trends at the Commission!

Contract Agents, Internal Competitions, Newsletter #19 – Nov 2016, Professional mobility, Staff Regulations Reform, z Newsletter article Print This Post

As can be seen from recent statistics (see table), the only category of staff that is currently still growing is the Contract Agent (CA) category. Looking at the data and comparing this growth with the recent trend in the recruitment of permanent officials (‘fonctionnaires‘), we can conclude that the Commission has begun a process of replacing permanent officials with CAs [1]. Continue reading You are hired/fired: Recruitment trends at the Commission! →

28 Officials sent to early retirement this year!

Newsletter #19 – Nov 2016, Pensions, z Newsletter article Print This Post

You may have already heard that 28 officials will benefit from article 42c of the SR this year. The 28 beneficiaries will be exempt from doing actual work or showing up at their service, while continuing to receive a comfortable allowance and increasing their pension rights up to the day they are eligible to fully retire: Continue reading 28 Officials sent to early retirement this year! →