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EU staff threaten strike action over belt-tightening

18 November 2011, 23:33 CET
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(BRUSSELS) - EU staff unions on Friday threatened strike action next week to protest belt-tightening measures as the bloc goes on an austerity diet.

A statement from an "Inter-institutional Joint Front" representing the 55,000 staff across the European institutions has called an assembly on Tuesday following a breakdown in conciliation talks with the European Commission.

European staff wages vary widely: from 2,650 euros ($3,580) per month before tax and social welfare payments, to 23,000 euros gross for each of the 27 national EU commissioners.

Staff are concerned by a bid to overhaul staff rules and by a letter signed by 17 of the 27 European Union states that criticises automatic wage adjustments and links the possibility of wage hikes to the economic situation.

The 17 austerity-driven nations also say an increase in retirement age from 63 to 65 is not sufficient.

Staff unions on the other hand criticise working conditions on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stopdismantlingeustaffregulations.


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