USF is publishing a joint note addressed to Pietro Barabaschi, Director-General of the ITER Organization (IO), and Jan Panek, Head of the European Delegation to the ITER Council and Director for Nuclear Energy, Safety and ITER at DG ENER. The note expresses deep concerns regarding the compulsory staff reductions implemented at ITER in July 2026 and their implications for staff, governance, social dialogue, and the future delivery of the ITER programme.
The document questions both the substance of the decisions and the process through which they were adopted. It highlights concerns about the amendment of staff regulations shortly before the dismissals were announced, the reduction of notice periods and separation entitlements, the absence of transitional arrangements for existing staff, and the limited opportunities provided to affected colleagues to be informed and heard.
The note also calls for greater transparency regarding the role of the European Commission and its representatives in the approval of these measures, and seeks clarification on the financial justifications underpinning the staff reductions. Particular attention is drawn to the potential loss of expertise and institutional knowledge at a time when ITER continues to pursue its strategic objectives.
USF joins the call for meaningful social dialogue, full transparency, and a thorough review of the decisions taken. Where procedural, legal, or governance shortcomings are identified, appropriate corrective measures should be considered.
