Europe Day takes ironic turn as EU staff strike

A day before Europe Day 2013, held yearly to celebrate the peace and unity in Europe, 3,500 staff of the European institutions held a strike on the 8 May 2013 against budgets cuts that may see their salaries cut by 60% over the next 15 years.

Europena Union (EU) officials were out on strike on the 5 June 2013 in the latest round of a running battle with governments on reforms to the EU's staff regulation. Cuts would involve a two-year salary freeze, an increase in the working week and a hike in the retirement age.

ESO: Background information: EU strike: work disrupted, but no threat to summit http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-strike-work-disrupted-but-no-threat-to-summit/

EUObserver, 16.05.13: Experts question legality of EU officials' pay cuts http://euobserver.com/economic/120137

EUObserver, 06.06.13: EU officials on strike again, but talks move forward http://euobserver.com/news/120390

---