Our Union Syndicale family has just lost one of its leading figures
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our colleague Isabelle Wolff on 25 July 2023.
Many of us had one or more opportunities to meet Isabelle. She will always be remembered for her kindness and above all her commitment to union solidarity. Isabelle is a person who gives, who gives of herself to others, who, it has to be said, sacrifices herself for others. Among her friends and colleagues, she is known for her intelligent and extremely well-mannered kindness, of a great woman, with an unfailing patience that observes with attention.
She has understood, beyond her educational principles, that success is twofold: it can be competitive and short-lived, or collaborative and long-term.
Where so-called intellectuals come up with extremely complex theories or models, she describes the essence of the analysis in an impeccable and above all simple model in 30 seconds. Isabelle was profoundly political, perfectly analysing the past, the events and decisions of today and the paths of tomorrow.
Isabelle began her career at DG RTD (European Commission) in the 1990s and, after a period in another DG, moved to the Publications Office in the early 2000s. She has also been a dedicated staff representative.
Isabelle’s activities as a staff representative began 20 years ago. She was active in the unions of Union Syndicale Fédérale (USL then USFL, still loyal) and was vice-president of USF Luxembourg. She was also quickly elected (and re-elected) to the Commission’s local staff committee in Luxembourg. She was twice a member of the Bureau of the local staff committee and its vice-president. Over the years, she has also held mandates on a number of joint committees covering, for example, catering (CPGRC), careers (promotion and related activities committees) and working time (working time and hybrid work committee). She was also an active member of the Commission’s Central Staff Committee, where, above and beyond her skills, she was recognised as a friendly person with great respect for others.
There is no doubt that she had a significant influence on staff representation in the Commission, particularly in Luxembourg, over the last two decades. The Director General of the Commission’s Human Resources Directorate General wrote to her Central Staff Committee, quite appropriately mentioning that staff representation had just lost one of its leading figures.
Her many mandates in the Union Syndicale Fédérale and in elected staff representation bodies are but a pale reflection of her great knowledge and indisputable commitment. Her kindness and social intelligence made her an irreplaceable member of our trade union.
She will be missed.
Our thoughts are with her family and friends.
