On Monday 11 June, the representatives of the interpreters' unions and the administration of the European Parliament were still negotiating the terms of the work stoppages planned by the interpreters during plenary session from Tuesday onwards.
Discussions between the two sides focused on the request by Parliament's administration for interpreters to ensure a minimum service, so as to disturb the work of the plenary session as little as possible.
The strikers are not contesting the principle of a minimum service, as long as it does not denude the strike action of all substance and is agreed to in line with social dialogue conducted in proper form (by definition of minimum service, respecting time frames, etc.).
According to our information, the interpreters are prepared to accept requisitions of 25% to 30% of staff, whereas the administration wishes to mobilise between 39% and 59% of staff (213 interpreters for each day of the plenary), but the interpreters consider that this level runs counter to the principle of proportionality. However, they have rejected outright the administration's request to put together a reserve team of 50 interpreters.
The meeting of the Bureau of the Parliament in Strasbourg was due to discuss this dossier as we were going to press on Monday evening.
When asked about this social movement, which is virtually without precedent in the European Parliament (see EUROPE 12034), the European institution's director for communication, Jaume Duch Guillot, said on Monday that the interpreters were still deciding whether or not to act on the notice given. He said he was confident that that the negotiations underway would move the two sides' positions closer together. However, if it does come to work stoppages, it is clear that the house will also take the necessary measures to ensure that work, including the entire plenary, is not disturbed, he said.
The interpreters hope to avoid disturbing the debates that are considered the most important ones of the plenary session, such as Wednesday's debate on the future of the EU with the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte. However, they are keen to make their action visible. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion with Marion Fontana)