The European Central Bank (ECB) has introduced restrictions on staff representatives, aiming to keep them closely involved with the bank’s work while allowing them to maintain career progression, according to an ECB spokesperson. However, staff representatives argue that the move is intended to weaken their influence.
“Someone working full-time is naturally more effective than two individuals splitting their time between roles,” said Carlos Bowles, spokesperson for the ECB staff committee. Currently, committee members receive a set number of hours to dedicate to their duties, which they can distribute as needed.
Additionally, some members are active in the IPSO trade union and can currently combine time allowances for both roles.
Bowles accused ECB President Christine Lagarde of introducing these changes in retaliation for a staff survey conducted last year evaluating her leadership. “This is clearly a response to the survey on Lagarde’s performance,” he claimed. The ECB did not comment on this allegation.
The staff survey, originally reported by POLITICO, found that over half of respondents rated Lagarde’s performance as either “very poor” or “poor.”
“Rather than addressing concerns and improving staff relations, they are punishing those who raised the issues,” Bowles said.
As part of the changes, the ECB also plans to impose a two-term limit on the committee spokesperson—preventing Bowles from continuing in the role—while increasing the number of staff representatives from nine to ten. Additionally, the term length for representatives will be extended from two years to three.
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