H/T Greg Aharonian.

There’s a war going on at the European Patent Office (EPO), EPO President Batistelli against the staff. Since the EPO is outside any national law, the president can impose any rule he deems fit. He has recently forbidden union officials and staff representatives to send emails, and has taken disciplinary measures against those who infringed these new rules.One staff representative was degraded, another suspended. We have almost daily demonstrations now, and a strike vote next week. The president tried to declare strikes illegal but did not succeed yet.Enough is enough, Emperor Batistelli has to go.

The below letter was sent by the Union representing Patent Examiners, to the Chairman.

Munich, March 4th 2014

To: Mr J. Kongstad

Chairman of the Administrative Council

Re: Mr Battistelli has lost the trust of staff

Dear Mr Kongstad,

The staff of the European Patent Office in Munich met in a General Assembly on March 4th 2014. Following a spontaneous request from the floor, the Munich staff has given its SUEPO representatives – with more than 750 votes in favour and 1 single abstention – the imperative mandate to inform the Administrative Council of the following:

The staff has lost trust in Mr Battistelli, and is concerned not only about its own future, but also about the negative repercussions on the functioning of the European patent system as a whole. It has become clear that the proper performance of the tasks of the individual staff members, and therefore of the European Patent Office, is incompatible with the continuing presidency of Mr Battistelli.

We respectfully request that you inform the Administrative Council accordingly.

Yours sincerely,

The Munich SUEPO Committee