tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post3420675847275907227..comments2024-03-28T09:05:22.006+00:00Comments on The IPKat: Merpel revisits the EPO strikeVerónica RodrÃguez Arguijohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05763207846940036921noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-56192582569548602032014-12-04T19:19:06.550+00:002014-12-04T19:19:06.550+00:00@Nicholas Braddon: Picketing at the gates was forb...@Nicholas Braddon: Picketing at the gates was forbidden by VP4 Mr Topic. <br />The strike is going on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-726376472032600232014-12-04T11:35:09.057+00:002014-12-04T11:35:09.057+00:00I attended EPO oral proceedings in Munich today (4...I attended EPO oral proceedings in Munich today (4 December 2014). The oral proceedings went ahead without incident and, to my eyes, there were no obvious signs of any strike action taking place.Nicholas Braddonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-78896646259121587642014-12-04T07:50:24.369+00:002014-12-04T07:50:24.369+00:00One Board of Appeal member was suspended yesterday...One Board of Appeal member was suspended yesterday.The locks were changed and the person was escorted from the premises by 4 security guards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-32548041226570000122014-12-03T23:15:02.463+00:002014-12-03T23:15:02.463+00:00Now who thinks is good that president takes de fac...Now who thinks is good that president takes de facto control of appeal board? Decide who stay and who go? Who think is good for european patent system?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-60346076507031579682014-12-03T23:13:40.998+00:002014-12-03T23:13:40.998+00:00Indeed, quite a lot of people demonstrated without...Indeed, quite a lot of people demonstrated without striking. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-91627687574627636962014-12-03T23:03:05.589+00:002014-12-03T23:03:05.589+00:00Point 1. It has long been the case that examiners ...Point 1. It has long been the case that examiners would cross the picket line for oral proceedings since it was unfair to (financially) inconvenience parties. In addition some staff are essential e.g. Formalities officers to answer (time limited) questions, security, IT support etc. in addition, contract staff and new employees on probationary periods are not expected to risk their employment. Generally management would not join strikes and now they are too frightened to do so. Suepo' comments this time reflect that some examiners are less willing to play by the office's rules since they are prevented from alternative actions and are used as pawns in a strike number game.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-65778413935553560992014-12-03T22:01:04.609+00:002014-12-03T22:01:04.609+00:00Some comments...
(1) & (2) & (4) The stri...Some comments...<br /><br />(1) & (2) & (4) The strike regulations allow the administration to requisition employees to refrain from going on strike in order to ensure the basic functioning of the office (See Art. 30a(9) Service Regulations that you posted on 24.04 on this very blog). I would guess that OPs are considered minimum functioning...<br /><br />(3) "Merpel assumes that the number of people actually demonstrating would be lower than the number on strike, since a person could refrain from work without attending the demonstrations" - you may equally assume that a person, depending on his or her personal circumstances, could decide to take half a day off so as not as to appear officially on strike, and still go to the demonstration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-42796594491707777432014-12-03T21:25:55.053+00:002014-12-03T21:25:55.053+00:00I have recorded the notice of the EPO and it indee...I have recorded the notice of the EPO and it indeed mentioned a "minority" of examiners calling for a strike. The results of the strike ballot were roughly 85% in favor of a strike, with around 55% of participation (I quote these results from memory, there might be a slight error).<br />Of course EPO management has chosen the school holidays to organize the vote. So indeed less than 50% of the employees entitled to vote called for a strike. You can consider it as a minority.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-10942261027860658992014-12-03T17:54:04.168+00:002014-12-03T17:54:04.168+00:00I attended oral proceedings in The Hague on 26 Nov...I attended oral proceedings in The Hague on 26 November. Leaflets were being handed out to those entering the building, but there was no impact on the OPs themselves, which went on until 18.30.Richard Bassettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5574479.post-52575226836998733362014-12-03T17:44:12.194+00:002014-12-03T17:44:12.194+00:00Regardless of other issues, EPO staff are European...Regardless of other issues, EPO staff are European Civil Servants and, as such, are entitled to Oral Proceedings, Orthodontics and Other Dentistry treatments. <br /><br />Michael Factorhttp://blog.ipfactor.co.ilnoreply@blogger.com