Staff Categories

Stop the AST/SC exploitation NOW

Assistants, Junior Professionals Programme, Newsletter - 2021-06-16, Pensions, Petition, Secretaries and clerks, Staff Categories, Staff Regulations Reform Print This Post

The secretarial and clerical assistants (AST/SC) function group (FG/’GF’) was introduced by the 2013 revision of the staff regulations (SR) that entered into force 01.01.2014.

The established ‘dinosaurs’ trade unions and staff associations (OSPs) did not oppose the creation of the AST/SC category in 2013. Now they hypocritically claim that they care about the AST/SC staff and want to help them. What they really care about is getting the AST/SC votes in the forthcoming staff representation elections. Continue reading Stop the AST/SC exploitation NOW →

Local agent employment-conditions reform

EEAS, Local Agents, Newsletter - 2021-05-21, Outside the Union Print This Post

Here are updates and the review process of the salary-revision decision. Subsequent to the conclusion of the social dialogue for the local agent (LA) employment conditions, which should replace the Framework Rules, all LA colleagues will have until 30 June 2021 to decide whether to sign the package of conditions. If you have any questions or need any assistance, you can contact Generation 2004. Continue reading Local agent employment-conditions reform →

AST/SC SC6 the Loch Ness monster of staff grades

Assistants, Newsletter - 2021-04-28, Secretaries and clerks Print This Post

*Update 08.07.2021: We will have AST-SC6 colleagues in 2021!*[1]

AST/SC SC6 is a very strange phenomenon indeed. Colleagues in this grade are not an endangered species, rather there are none, they don’t exist: no one has yet attained that grade since recruitment began to this newest of staff categories in 2015 (Slide 6). This has oddly resulted in no mention being made of it in the scales in EU-published statistics, allowing readers to overlook even the existence of this last grade. Continue reading AST/SC SC6 the Loch Ness monster of staff grades →

Brexit update: UK-only TA/CA staff: transparency in application of criteria please

Brexit, Contract Agents, Newsletter - 2021-03-26, Temporary Agents Print This Post

A quick update and reminder of the context: the assurances given to staff with UK-only nationality that they ‘will continue their career with the Commission’ post Brexit (19.1.2021) do not apply to our colleagues with time-limited contracts.  Decisions on their future are being taken using these criteria on a ‘case-by-case assessment’ with results expected now, in March 2021 [1]. Continue reading Brexit update: UK-only TA/CA staff: transparency in application of criteria please →

Certification: you asked, we answer!

Assistants, Certification, Newsletter - 2021-03-04 Print This Post

*20.10.2022–14.12.2022: Evaluation and pre-selection of eligible applications by the DGs/Services for 2022/23 exercise*

You asked us (conference, 28.1.2021) how many assistants (ASTs) successfully complete the certification process (no mean feat!) but do not find an administrator (AD) post. This information is not so readily available but we’re good at digging and we asked HR to fill in some blanks and clear up discrepancies.

We count 1097 successful officials (the certifiés/those ’certified’ as apt [1]) in total from all 15 certification procedures to date (2005-2019 [2]) using HR reports for 2015 and 2019, together with administrative notices. HR confirms this count but provides figures which differ slightly from those published (see updated tables below [3]). Continue reading Certification: you asked, we answer! →

2021 Contract Agent Mobility exercise – Please let us know your challenges!

Contract Agents, Outside the Union, Professional mobility Print This Post

In the 2021 exercise Generation 2004 noted that following the conclusion of the first phase of the mobility exercise, a significant number of contract agents (CAs) [1]:

    • did not receive an invitation for an interview from any of the five countries in which they had expressed an interest:
    • did not receive an offer for any of the five countries in which they had expressed an interest.

Continue reading 2021 Contract Agent Mobility exercise – Please let us know your challenges! →

Certified ASTs: an endangered species?

Assistants, Certification, Newsletter - 2021-02-03, Promotions Print This Post

*20.10.2022–14.12.2022: Evaluation and pre-selection of eligible applications by the DGs/Services for 2022/23 exercise*

Belated congratulations to our 42 colleagues declared certifié in December 2020 *and 44 from 2021* they now finally begin the very last stage in this long and arduous quest, that of finding an AD post, well done and good luck in your search! Continue reading Certified ASTs: an endangered species? →

Generation 2004 is hiring a 50% time Secretary at the European Commission in Brussels

Contract Agents, Vacancy Print This Post

For our daily work ‘For the many, not the few’ Generation 2004 employs a team of committed and hardworking colleagues.

Generation 2004 is hiring a 50% time secretary for its headquarters in Brussels (depending on future availability this might become 100%). If you are a Contract Agent FG II you can join the team. If you are not eligible but you know someone who is (or who is listed in a valid FG II CAST list or higher) and that you believe could be interested in the job, please feel free to forward this vacancy. Continue reading Generation 2004 is hiring a 50% time Secretary at the European Commission in Brussels →

Local agents update

Local Agents, Newsletter - 2020-12-18, Outside the Union, Staff Regulations Reform, Working conditions Print This Post

Implementation of the new package for local agents (LAs)

While the administration commits to get the large number of EU Delegation exceptions (‘derogations’) ready for a decision by February 2021, it means the entire package will not be available for LAs to decide until then. In this latest update to this ongoing issue, Generation 2004 urges all LA colleagues to ensure that they fully understand the entire package before they make their decision as it is likely to be irreversible. Continue reading Local agents update →

Junior Professionals Programme (JPP) open for contract agents – or not

Assistants, Contract Agents, Junior Professionals Programme, Newsletter - 2020-12-18, Secretaries and clerks, Staff Categories Print This Post

DG Human Resources and Security (DG HR) has recently announced changes to the Junior Professionals Programme (JPP). The most important change is that now all contract agents (CAs), from function group 1 (FGI) to 3 (FGIII), can apply for the programme [1]. Sounds too good to be true? Congratulations for recognising this, you are definitely an experienced colleague at the Commission.

Continue reading Junior Professionals Programme (JPP) open for contract agents – or not →