A first for USF Luxembourg: running for the Commission LSC elections in Luxembourg in November 2016, less than two years after its birth. No, because USF has been present in Luxembourg through its section Union Syndicale Luxembourg (USL). This latter organization resigned from USF in March 2015, without informing either staff or its own members \u2013 in order to join “the Alliance of Free Trade Unions” – more commonly known as the Alliance. It was then out of the question to accept that Luxembourg staff is left without support, without the USF. USF Luxembourg therefore was born, created by former members of the USL who had not approved of the strategy above. Thus, Luxembourg staff continues to be defended by the USF, now and in the future. Agora 74 issued in September 2015 (https:\/\/usf-luxembourg.eu\/Docs\/Agora\/NouveauVenu.pdf) announced the creation of the USF Luxembourg, detailing its origins, values and work areas interests. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/p>\n The USF Luxembourg poster illustrates its values and mission:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> The slogan ” Solidarity is our business, defending the staff our mission” is part and parcel of the USF mission. Mention must be made of the very warm welcome that the larger USF family has reserved for USF Luxembourg \u2013 a proof of solidarity at all levels.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> Our ambition:<\/span><\/p>\n This project is on the one hand deeply rooted in the DNA of the USF; it has also had as its trigger the unfortunate management style and actions of the outgoing majority of the Luxembourg Staff Committee during the term 2013\/2016.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> During that period, we could witness a certain number of persons using their majority in order to attend to their own interests based on the principle best summed up as “I have the majority, I do what I want” – and not necessarily to the advantage of staff and even less to the benefit of staff based in Luxembourg.<\/span><\/p>\n This ” tyranny of the majority ” has forgotten their being elected as a result of the vote cast by staff – who requires to be defended, informed, listened to in an objective and non-partisan manner. On the contrary, this majority has followed no rules when it served its own interests, refused to listen to those elected, ignored any opinions that did not conform to their own. The list of the shortcomings of their term of office could go on and on and on.<\/span><\/p>\n USF Luxembourg does not intend to enter into bitter arguments; USF Luxembourg does intend however to make sure that the Staff Committee belongs to the staff \u2013 by doing everything in its power in order to have a LSC that is present, available, close to the colleagues and that, above all, does not play political games.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div> Trying to force a change the electoral system just a few weeks before an election reminds more of a “banana republic” working style than of an appetite for democracy.<\/span> Secondly, it means complying with the rules and regulations governing the activities of the LSC and of the joint committees; and also holding in esteem the words and arguments of all elected colleagues: the LSC should be a place for civilised and informed debate, as well as of active listening in order to arrive to consesual proposals.<\/span><\/p>\n These are the bases that we should all rely upon so that we can better defend staff, in full concert with the other unions.<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div> USF Luxembourg is a union available to all staff, whether statutory or not, whether AD or AST, whether official or contract agent, whether recruited post-2004, post-2014 or prior to 2004.<\/span>
\nAnd a first victory: a complete electoral list, bringing together all categories of staff (2004, 2014, prior to 2004, officials, “other agents”), all job categories (huissiers, heads of unit, educators, accountants, statisticians); a list to the institution’s image and mirroring its diversity, united in the pursuit to help build the European Union.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>USF Luxembourg offers more than a program: it proposes a project aiming to make the Staff Committee belong to the staff.<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>
Are these the first statutory elections for USF Luxembourg?<\/span><\/h1><\/h1><\/div>
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>
\nThe 2016 elections will allow USF Luxembourg confirm its local focus and presence, especially since our section has managed to present now a complete electoral list, open also to non-members, bringing together all staff and job categories.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>A young union for over forty years <\/span><\/h1><\/h1><\/div>
\nYet even beyond the moment of its creation, USF Luxembourg had existed since the foundation of the USF, namely for more than forty years.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe primary purpose and mission of USF Luxembourg remains the defense of staff, the key, even unique, resource of the European Union.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nSolidarity is our business, defending the staff our mission<\/span><\/h1><\/h1><\/div>
Stronger together<\/span><\/h1><\/h1><\/div>
This founding principle of our federation has not remained an empty phrase – since USF Luxembourg has indeed benefited from solidarity of the federation and of all the other sections.
\nIndeed, synergies were put into action by means of issuing thematic leaflets, of offering legal consultations or occasional support to colleagues \u2013 all made possible as a result of a thorough mapping of knowledge and networking of resources. <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>More than a program, a project<\/span><\/h1><\/h1><\/div>
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How can we get there?<\/span><\/h1><\/h1><\/div>
First, by respecting some basic values and principles:<\/span><\/h3><\/h3><\/div>
Real engagement: some of our themes<\/span><\/h3><\/h2><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>Respect<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
\n This means, to begin with, respecting all opinions (including any dissenting opinion), build consensus and succeed, in a win\/win process, in taking decisions and acting on them.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n Yet this is precisely what the current outgoing “majority” did by calling, mid-summer, a General Assembly meant to vet its proposed new electoral system; luckily, that vote was lost nonetheless – due to the mobilization of staff refusing such practices.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/i><\/i><\/span>Putting together our competences<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
<\/i><\/i><\/span>Availability<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div>
\n Cross-generational and cross-statute solidarity is fundamental to defend the values of independence, competence and continuity of the European public service.<\/span>
\n USF Luxembourg, with the assistance of the Federation, will be very active in this daily pursuit.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>