Union Syndicale Fédérale, USF

03/08/2026

A recent POLITICO article on whistleblowing within the EU institutions features comments from Nathalie de Montigny, a lawyer at Lexentia Law Firm and long-time partner of our trade union in the defence of staff rights.

In the article, de Montigny explains that the key issue today is not merely whether legal protections exist, but whether staff members can realistically trust those protections when they report wrongdoing. She also highlights the difficulties faced by employees in environments where professional relationships are built on close collaboration and where reporting misconduct may lead to isolation or retaliation.

A recent POLITICO article on whistleblowing within the EU institutions: whistleblower protection must work in practice, not only on paper

15/07/2026

Where do you work?

🏢 In the office? 🏠 At home? 🚄 On the move? 🌍 Across borders?

For many staff today, the answer is: all of the above.

This article explores the emerging concept of the worksphere and asks whether our workplace rules are still fit for a world where work is increasingly flexible, digital, and distributed.

A fascinating read on the future of work, employee well-being, and the role of trade unions in protecting workers in this new environment.

👇 Read more
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eecm8yDG

13/07/2026

What kind of European public service do we want for the future?

As discussions surrounding the Large-Scale Review (LSR) continue and ahead of the presentation of the HR Workstreams' outcomes, the Union Syndicale Fédérale (USF) wishes to reiterate the position it has consistently defended throughout the process.

The USF Position Paper on the Large-Scale Review reflects months of discussion, consultation, compromise and collective work across our organisations. More importantly, it sets out a clear vision of the kind of European public service we believe staff and citizens deserve.

Read our proposals for a stronger public service, participatory governance, respect for fundamental rights, and European digital sovereignty. The USF Position Paper on the Large-Scale Review is now available here.
📑 https://lnkd.in/ewk-WvNd

26/06/2026

Last week, we were delighted to welcome Dr. Endika Bengoetxea, Research Programme Manager at the European Research Council (ERC), who shared valuable insights into "AI and its applications in the EU workplace". Stefano Luoni complemented this with his presentation, "AI in the EU Civil Service: An Analytical Overview of Structural Trends, Organisational Evolution and Workforce Safeguards.”

We strongly believe that trade unions must be at the forefront of this debate to address the questions on how we protect workers in the age of automation and what accountability looks like when AI systems influence decisions affecting millions.

This series of presentations by experts is part of our effort to understand how to navigate Artificial Intelligence’s intrusive technology. We, as p***c service in the EU, can play a crucial role in shaping its development rather than being subjected to it.

23/06/2026

On 23 June, Public Service Day, Union Syndicale Fédérale joins European Public Service Unions (EPSU) to stand up against the . We need public investment, more staff, and higher wages, and European trade unions must join hands to prevent the erosion of public services because public service workers across Europe are fighting the same battle.

23/06/2026

🇪🇺 European civil servants joins the call against !

During the USF Federal Committee meeting on Saturday 20 June 2026, representatives of trade union organisations have come together on under the Union Syndicale Fédérale, USF to support the EPSU Public Services Emergency Campaign – “Higher Wages, More Staff, and Public Investment.”

At the same time, 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."

15/06/2026

Good morning, good people! Monday mornings often start with that familiar search for clarity — a strong coffee, a clear inbox, and hopefully, clear decisions too. ☕

In that spirit, a recent judgment handed down by the Court of Justice on 29 January 2026 serves as an important reminder that European Union institutions must clearly explain the reasons for their decisions.

In this case, a refusal to reclassify an official was overturned precisely because the reasoning was insufficient. The Court made it clear that missing justification cannot be fixed after the fact. Instead, institutions must fully respect the rights of the defence and the principle of equality of arms from the outset.

A lesson to start the week: clarity is essential; vague reasoning is not recommended. This ruling reinforces transparency and accountability within the EU administration, ensuring that decisions are grounded from the very beginning.

Read the full analysis here: https://lnkd.in/eBchhSZe

08/06/2026

INTERVIEW: Shaping Artificial Intelligence or Being Shaped by It?

We are proud to present our interview with Karen Hao, author of Empire of AI, as part of USF's ongoing commitment to understanding and shaping the impact of AI on our workplaces and working conditions. Understanding AI is part of defending democracy and workers' rights.

In this engaging conversation, we explore how AI is transforming power dynamics in society and why it is essential for trade unions to remain at the forefront of this debate.

👉 Watch the full interview here : https://lnkd.in/enVhCrKn

04/06/2026

We are not finished talking about digitalisation. And we will keep it on our Agenda as long as it takes because technology is reshaping our jobs — often meaning more pressure, more control and less balance.

As Agnieszka Piasna highlights in her article, digitalisation is intensifying work, fragmenting working time, extending availability into private life, and weakening job security — even when productivity rises.

These are not neutral technological changes. They are political and social choices. Without strong trade unions, digitalisation risks becoming a tool for surveillance, work intensification and precariousness.

Today, as discussions across Europe continue on AI in the workplace, working time, and the right to disconnect, we keep pushing for social dialogue and collective bargaining in all our institutions to make sure we are not disconnected from political and social decisions. And for that, we need collective voice and action.

🔗 Here is a food for thought: https://lnkd.in/eTWYYe3z

26/05/2026

🌡️ As temperatures rise across Europe this week, so does the pressure on workers. Heatwaves are a reminder that working conditions, health and safety, and workers’ rights are not abstract debates — they are daily realities.

✊ And, we should also highlight that the right to strike is a right ! The International Court of Justice has confirmed it is protected under international law, marking a major victory for workers everywhere. Now is the time to ensure this right is respected in practice across Europe and beyond.

At the same time, decisions made in Brussels this week will shape the future of work. Trade unions call for strong rights, fair wages, and no deregulation disguised as “competitiveness.” Whether in times of crisis, reform, or even a heatwave, workers’ rights must always be protected in every context !