Our LSC actions in the last 3 years
The Local Staff Committee (LSC) is a statutory body with a fundamental role in the defence of staff rights and plays an important role in the verification of the correct application of the Staff Regulations and other local provisions. The Ispra/Seville LSC is composed of 21 elected couples (full members and deputy members), representing staff jointly in both of the sites of Ispra and Seville.
On our website you can find our “Local Staff Committee for newbies” section which provides more information about the purpose and how the LSC functions. The Myintracomm page Social dialogue at the Commission is another useful source of information. The Staff Regulations stipulate that the ‘duties undertaken by members of the SC shall be deemed to be part of their normal service in their Institution.' This means that full participation in the staff representation is not to be considered as optional or extra work by the institution, and members must be allowed to dedicate the necessary time to perform the role satisfactorily.
The Trade Union R&D Ispra will be present as LIST 5 - anotheR&Dimension in the Ispra/Seville Local Staff Committee elections for the next mandate. The electronic voting system for the election of the Ispra/Seville LSC is the same as the one applied in Brussels. The system combines list voting with preference voting and is quite complex - to avoid mistakes we have created this short guide aims at answering your questions.
During the last mandate, a great deal has been achieved thanks in no small part to the hard work and guidance of the elected members of anotheR&Dimension. During this time the LSC has been presided by anotheR&Dimension’s Robert Kenny. A full list of our elected members and their nominations to the various committees, both central and local may be found here. It is of paramount importance to have a strong and reliable LSC and for that reason, we are asking you to renew your support for our continued guidance of the Ispra/Seville LSC.
Here we provide just a few examples of the work performed during this mandate:
Individual Staff Rights
The LSC plays a critical role in this area offering confidential assistance in supporting staff in case of suspected harassment (e.g., psychological or sexual) and activating procedures to protect staff for conflict resolution (collaborating with confidential counsellors and medical service, questioning administration). Staff members in need can contact the LSC secretariat, who will make sure that one of the elected members will deal with the issue in full confidentiality.
Access to Italian National Health System (SSN)
The access to Italian national health system for European employees is a critical point discussed on many occasions by the LSC. In recent bilateral meetings between the LSC Executive Office and Directors from JRC, HR and PMO, the LSC has insisted that efforts from the Commission should be intensified, and furthermore that improved communications on the topic should be made to staff.
Certification exercise
The JRC has had a historic issue with limited access to the certification programme for JRC AST staff. The LSC has investigated the matter collecting feedback based on interviews of AST staff based at Ispra. The interviews helped to identify the main issues to better address the topic and the LSC passed on these results at DG and HR level. Recent results are more promising than those in past years.
Investments in infrastructure (Ispra)
Investments in the Ispra site infrastructure are essential to ensure the best research and technical facilities, offices, and also to ensure the site is sustainable and to reduce operating costs. The social infrastructure, such as the clubhouse, residences, childcare facilities and canteen are also crucial to ensure the attractiveness of the site. The operation of these facilities are overseen in the relevant joint committees, including the COPAS joint committee which additionally disburses grants to the circa 30 recognised sports and social clubs. During this mandate, two particular investments in infrastructure works for the staff canteen and childcare (garderie) facilities have been given top priority as they are considered crucial for the business continuity and the attractiveness of the Ispra site. For both cases, the LSC, together with COGEPE, CHST and CGM committees, addressed the issues in several meetings and through specific notes to the Ispra Site Manager, DG JRC and OIB. The LSC has pointed out the need to give priority to both of the above investments in the current and mid-term strategic development plan for Ispra, to ensure permanent solutions as soon as possible.
European School Varese and transport
The LSC has expressed its concerns regarding the quality of teaching at the European School in Varese. Even though the European Schools are not managed by the Commission, it does provide significant funding and the quality of the school is of crucial importance to the attractiveness of the site. Another matter of concern is the ongoing and longstanding disagreement between PMO and the Cooperativa Trasporti Alunni Scuola Europea, which has led to the discontinuation of the direct payment of the school transport costs by PMO to parents. This has led to financial stress on many parents who have to advance often significant sums, which are reimbursed later by PMO. The LSC has continued discussions of the situation with the Cooperativa and with JRC and PMO in order to ease the stress on parents and to find a more permanent solution.
Working time and flexible working
The Commission Decision on Working Time and Hybrid Working was published early in 2022, and was the outcome of lengthy discussions between the Commission, the trade unions and the staff committee. The LSC then proposed to senior management that the JRC set its own guidelines since HR’s own guidelines were not yet ready. With significant input from the LSC, the JRC Guidelines were published in September 2022. A principal inclusion from the LSC was that the JRC would implement a policy of maximum flexibility and would ensure that the principles of the Decision would be applied as uniformly as possible across the JRC, rather than being applied according to the personal preferences of individual Unit Heads. The JRC plans to update its guidelines in 2024, and the LSC has performed a survey of staff based in Ispra, which has had more than 400 responses. The results have been analysed and are in the process of being transmitted to the JRC senior management. The Commission Decision also required the setting up of a Joint Committee on Hybrid Working. Ispra/Seville LSC members regularly participate in the meetings and activities of this important joint committee.
Selection and Recruitment
The selection and recruitment of staff is critical to the future of the JRC and the Ispra and Seville sites. The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) has experienced major difficulties in the last years, in large part related to the failures of remote testing. The LSC has for many years asked for regular competitions for both AST and AD scientific and technical staff. LSC nominated members participate in the GT CCR committee, which discusses and helps in the preparation of competitions in the research field. A competition was successfully launched and concluded for AST technical staff during the mandate, and a competition for AD staff will be launched in November 2024. As well as being consulted in the preparation phase, the LSC also collects candidates for nomination to the Selection Boards (these are ultimately approved by the Central Staff Committee).
Staff Mobility
The LSC requested a more structured approach to mobility and involvement of staff representatives. The LSC emphasized the importance of transparency and fairness in the mobility process. The LSC has expressed its concerns to the JRC senior management that any mobility should take into account the professional aspirations and experience of all staff involved.
JRC Organisational Transformation
The LSC has discussed various aspects of the JRC organisational transformation, driven by the Director General Stephen Quest (who left the JRC in May 2024), and its impact on staff and their jobs. The LSC requested more information on the transformation and its implications for staff and provided opinions. The LSC has also debated the implications of the incoming Commission and new Commission priorities on the JRC’s Work programme and on staff.
Scientific Committee
The JRC LSCs (Ispra/Seville, Petten, Geel, Karlsruhe) expressed, in a joint note to the Director General Stephen Quest, their concern about a proposed change to the positioning of the JRC Scientific Committee within the JRC’s organisational structure.
Energy saving measures
The LSC discussed and addressed energy-saving measures introduced in 2022 and 2023, to combat the huge increase in energy costs, especially for gas. The JRC experienced a critical funding crunch during this period. Staff generally responded well to a range of introduced measures, including the reduction of the office temperature in winter, and an increase in the summer. An extended site closure after the Christmas holiday period also enabled a longer site closure. Overall energy savings of greater than 20% have been reported by the site management. The LSC also proposed the temporary closure of building 63, a poorly insulated prefabricated building used exclusively for the staff representatives (LSC, trade unions). The LSC also recommended the increased installation of photovoltaic panels, building insulation and the use of heat pumps to improve energy efficiency, energy self-sufficiency, and to reduce operating costs.
Interim pilot project
Recognizing urgent needs to fill short-term absences, the Ispra/Seville LSC in an earlier mandate had agreed that interim staff may be used at the JRC in Ispra in very specific and limited cases with LSC prior approval, in a pilot scheme subject to review. The permitted cases for the temporary replacement of administrative support staff are strictly the following: Maternity or parental leave or a combination thereof; Family leave, to take care of ill or handicapped family members; Sick leave. Since the start of the pilot scheme, a relatively small number of placements have been approved, with only very few requests rejected as being outside the scope. The LSC performed a review of the programme in 2023 and has requested to the JRC senior management that the pilot be converted into a more permanent scheme, along the same principles as the pilot.
Newcomers
The LSC makes a presentation of its role and services to the newcomers as part of the induction process, typically once per month, and has recently updated the presentation to highlight that the LSC is formed by staff for the benefit of staff, and to emphasize that staff experiencing any sort of difficulties should not hesitate to ask for help or advice, especially in cases of suspected harassment and difficulties with the probation period.
Public Holidays
The LSC is consulted on the annual public holidays for Ispra and Seville. For the calendar for 2025, the LSC proposed that an additional day be taken in January in order that the site may remain closed for the entire first week - and benefit energy saving - while also making it easier for colleagues to arrange their plans for the holiday period.
Europa Science Experience (ESE)
The LSC has expressed concerns regarding the under-utilization of this new facility located outside the main entrance. In particular, the LSC has proposed that it be opened more often, meeting rooms be made available more generally, and that staff from the reception be moved there on a permanent basis, so that the ESE may kept always (or more frequently) open, and serve as a more attractive and appealing reception area. The LSC has also stated the importance of maintaining the presentations and installations up to date with the latest JRC and Commission output, as this type of facility can rapidly become outdated otherwise.
Find out more: End of mandate report of the Ispra Seville Local Staff Committee
