USHU joins STRIKE WARNING

Helen Conefrey, Sumeet Thakkar, Mahbuba Abdulloeva, Sunil Kumar, Maja Vuckovic-Krcmar, Lejla Sultanovic, Michael Steffens 

POLITICAL AGREEMENT = NO ACCOUNTABILITY TOWARDS EU DEL STAFF

Why does everything around the “modernisation” of the EU Delegation network

remain so opaque?

USHU has joined other trade unions in supporting a strike-warning given its serious concerns regarding the rationale and the implementation of the modernisation of the EU Delegation Network.

Following the political decision taken jointly by the EEAS and the Commission and announced to staff on 23 May, the Commission has refused to hold a social dialogue meeting with Trade Unions and Staff representatives to listen to staff concerns and ensure a fair and transparent process.

The supposedly benign modernisation is in reality a global-wide restructuring exercise that affects more than 3,500 Commission staff serving in 145 Delegations worldwide not to mention the knock-on effect for EEAS staff.  This restructuring process was initiated without prior consultation with staff representatives or representative trade unions who were met with repeated assurances that reforms would be gradual and that dismissals would be avoided through natural wastage and redeployment.

The reality  on the ground for many staff is however quite distinct as the impact of the modernisation hits home. Before the end-of-year break, the Commission moved at the speed of light to implement the 1^st wave of dismissals of up to 29 Local Agents serving in Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. In some Delegations, the cuts to Finance, Contracts, and Audit Sections represents up to 65% of current Local Agents posts.

Despite the EU narrative to protect the most vulnerable, these redundancies affect mainly women who are long-serving staff members, above the age of 55 and with little chance of finding decent employment!  These Local Agents, our colleagues, have spent the best part of their professional lives, serving the EU only to be discarded within a matter of weeks and with scant regard for their well-being and future livelihoods.

The modernisation resulting from a political agreement between the EEAS and the Commission is being implemented with little empathy for staff and involves highly accelerated deadlines that ignore the impact on staff. This harsh approach negatively impacts on the reputation of the European Union both as an employer and as a reliable partner – particularly as this first wave of redundancies affects staff serving in Candidate Countries. What message are we sending to our partners and future Member States?

Trade Unions exist to ensure that there is a collective agreement to implement all modernisation measures in a transparent and fair manner that ensures that each and every colleague has full support and a fair outcome.

PLEASE FIND BELOW THE STRIKE WARNING THAT WAS ISSUED ON 30/01/2026