During the USF Federal Committee meeting on Saturday, 20 June 2026, representatives of trade union organisations came together under the Union Syndicale Fédérale (USF) to support the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) Public Services Emergency Campaign – “Higher Wages, More Staff, and Public Investment.”
At the same time, the USF Federal Committee also discuss several important topics related to Public Services Emergency. As the Large-Scale Review looms over public services, USF has set out red lines for the review. In particular, a position paper presents a firm, staff-centred response to potential large-scale changes in personnel policy, emphasising that EU civil servants remain the cornerstone of an effective and independent civil service and must, under no circumstances, be reduced in number or replaced. This reflects the principle that there can be no European Civil Service without its staff. The paper calls for maintaining a strong permanent civil service, reducing reliance on precarious staff, stopping the practice of “doing more with less,” rejecting mandatory mobility, ensuring stable and transparent career paths, and improving career prospects and staff representation.
Also present were representatives from SUEPO, the staff union of the European Patent Office (EPO), who shared news of ongoing industrial action. Around 1,600 EPO employees went on strike in January 2026 to protest continued declines in salaries and pensions, driven by a 2020 reform that capped pay adjustments and reduced purchasing power. EPO staff have since launched further industrial action, including strikes and work-to-rule measures, and are prepared to escalate if the changes are not reconsidered.
In addition, USF is preparing for its upcoming Congress, which will be held in Budapest, where the central theme will be solidarity and human dignity at the centre.
