Brussels

Electoral reform proposals: transparency in the ballot lists

At Generation 2004 we make no secret of the fact that we would like to see electoral reform. A standardisation of the electoral rules would make the staff representation not just simpler and significantly more user friendly for all, but also much more transparent.

That transparency would, ideally, also be extended to groupings of trade unions and staff associations (OSPs). It is imperative that staff know for whom they are voting: the voting system is already opaque and any agreements in place between OSPs should be made clear in order to allow staff to make informed decisions when voting. [1] Continue reading Electoral reform proposals: transparency in the ballot lists

Lingua franca, what? SCIC

What does it mean when your interlocutor refuses to use the only language you both have in common? Is it a (repeated) oversight? Forgetfulness? Something else?

Why on earth would anyone do this on purpose? They wouldn’t, right?

Regardless of the motivation, it’s awkward, isn’t it, being spoken at in a language you don’t understand, especially when you know you have a language in common and you’ve asked several times to use it. Continue reading Lingua franca, what? SCIC

The same electoral rules for all!

Uniform and fully democratic electoral rules throughout the Commission, synchronised electronic elections at all sites and, last but not least, a separate local staff committee (LSC) for Seville: these are the key elements of a proposal for staff-representation reform developed by Generation 2004. We have been raising these issues in one form or another since at least 2013 and have actively led on related efforts to address these three points on several occasions. Continue reading The same electoral rules for all!

Brussels LSC and the Interpreters’ Delegation

‘The staff committees represent the interests of the staff vis-à-vis the Institution and contributes to the smooth running of the service.’ (Staff Matters)

Generation 2004 objects to the way the Brussels Local Staff Committee (LSC) appears to be imposing rules on the Interpreters’ Delegation. Continue reading Brussels LSC and the Interpreters’ Delegation

Back to school in Brussels?

Following an announcement on 14 May, stating that the European Schools of Brussels would remain closed until the end of the school year of 2019-2020 on 3 July, a new update was sent to parents last Friday (29 May 2020), announcing the schools partial reopening for four weeks, from 8 June until 3 July (please read our note to European School)*. Not only was the move a surprising 180º turn of events, but it also came with some issues that Generation 2004 analysed and reacted upon in a note to DG HR’s Director General, Gertrud INGESTAD.

Continue reading Back to school in Brussels?

Positive change at the Brussels Local Staff Committee?

It seems our article on the Brussels Local Staff Committee (LSC) positive change from last month was perhaps given the wrong title. Following the latest March plenary session, we now believe a question mark is needed.  The correct title would then be: Positive change at the Brussels Local Staff Committee?

We believe this is so because of the positions and actions of some trade unions during the March plenary session, held with the single point of electing a new president of the LSC Brussels and this despite the request by Generation 2004 to include other points of more relevance for staff in the agenda. Continue reading Positive change at the Brussels Local Staff Committee?

On the functioning of the Brussels LSC

As you may know, Generation 2004 scored highest in the last Brussels local staff committee elections with 30% of votes. It was not only a big surprise to the administration, but foremost to the other trade unions. Despite the huge gain in votes and representativeness and due to preferential votes to smaller trade unions, G2004 did not obtain due number of seats in the Local Staff Committee Brussels (LSC). The new President Continue reading On the functioning of the Brussels LSC