Brussels, 25/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - The union of the employees of the European Central Bank (ECB) is calling for a strike on Wednesday 3 June, a first in the history of the Frankfurt-based institution. Ipso (the International and European Public Services Organisation), the only union recognised by the ECB, hopes to draw attention to the absence of democratic deficit in the ECB. It hopes to negotiate and conclude a framework agreement on the implementation of collective negotiations concerning changes to the working conditions of the ECB staff, and a collective agreement on the pension plan. On Friday 22 May, the ECB announced the decision (approved on 5 May by the council of governors) to make changes to the pension regime of staff members of the ECB. The organisation, which claims to represent 40% of the ECB staff, has called for a 90-minute “warning strike” (starting at 4.00pm) on the eve of the meeting of the council of governors. This action may lead to others, including legal action, the union announced in a letter to the six members of the board of the ECB on 18 May. (A.B./transl.fl)