New Italian law: 20% retention tax on bank transfers from abroad

As you may already know, a recently approved Italian law requires Italian banks to apply a 20% retention tax on income received from abroad. This law is applicable from the 1st February.
We have made a quick enquiry and it appears that our salaries are paid from an Italian bank account, therefore it seems that they are not affected.
However, we are investigating further to make sure there will be no future impact and are waiting for more official information from some Italian banks.
In case you have received any specific information from your bank or you have a specific question, please contact us!
We will be back with some more information as soon as we have it.

Future legal actions against the new Staff Regulations

Many colleagues are asking us about our plans to proceed with against the most controversial rules enforced by the new Staff Regulations. As already announced in our message of 4 February to all staff, we share staff view that these legal actions should be managed by all Trade Unions together, thereby avoiding non-coordinated initiatives as much as possible.
At the moment we are working hard - together with other Trade Unions – to provide you the highest possibilities of success in these actions. To this extent, a large pool of legal experts has been put in place and is preparing a series of art. 90 complaints. If you don't see anything coming out from us yet, it's not because of inactivity or lack of interest. On the contrary, we are supporting a coordinated approach, and we are working hard on it. So, don't panic! The deadline for an art. 90 complaint is 31/3/2014. Well before this, you'll get the chance to contest – in the best possible way – aspects of the new Staff Regulations that are negatively affecting your working life and career.

February payslip: a small salary increase

Some of you asked us more information about the salary adjustments you found in your February payslip.
Here we are:
·         Our pension contribution rate has decreased from 10,6 % to 10,3 %, retroactively applied from July 2013.
As a reminder, our contribution rate already decreased from 11,6 % to 10,6 % with the January payslip - see the Regularisation salary slip of December 2013.
The 2011 contribution rate has still not been applied, the Court case is pending. Its value will depend on multiple factors that include the actual salary and pension contribution rates in force at the time of the Court sentence.
·         Our Varese correction coefficient increased from 92,3 % (2010 value) to 92,8 %, and it is applied retroactively from July 2013.
As a reminder, the 2012 and 2011 correction coefficients have not been applied so far, since they are linked to the 2012 and 2011 salary adjustments that are to be negotiated between the Commission, the Council and the Parliament.
Enjoy this (very small…) salary increase!

Choose a topic, have your say!

Have you ever wished to make your voice heard on a specific topic? Would you like to be the first to know about new issues concerning your working life? Are you ready to get an active role in our decision making process, by simply participating in targeted discussions from your office?
We hope your answers were positive. At R&D, we take your input very seriously and wish to be sure we really represent your ideas, and it should not take too much of your time to get involved with our activities.
So, how can you channel your contributions?  By participating to our thematic working groups and by being added to the dedicated mailing lists!
Currently the following thematic working groups have been activated:
1.       Careers (certification, internal competitions, reclassements, mobility, promotions, contractual agents, open competitions)
2.       Individual rights (salaries, pensions, correction coefficient, allowances, teleworking & flexitime, social security)
3.       Working environment (safety & security at work, offices/open space, new buildings, parking, asbestos)
4.       Social policy (Canteen, Crèches/Garderies, Clubhouse)
5.       JSIS (Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme)
6.       European School
7.       Environment

The reference persons for each thematic group together with the executive members will ensure that your valued input will be used constructively in the definition of actions and positions of R&D that will be presented to the administration.

Choose to take part in one or more of these 7 areas, and become an active R&D member!! With a minimal engagement, we can achieve better results. Let’s put our ideas together, and help us to make your thoughts to become our position, and better defend your interests!

INTERNAL COMPETITIONS AD/AST: R&D invites you on Tuesday 4 February

R&D and its legal team are available on Tuesday 4 February from 12.30 to provide information and assistance to those colleagues who took part in the internal competitions but didn't pass the pre-selection phase. Therefore R&D invites colleagues concerned to participate in a videoconference with our experts and lawyers in Brussels to review the whole procedure and guide them through the steps of their possible ap­peals.
R&D is preparing Art. 90 claim models to be made available to unsuccessful applicants in these competitions, but our assistance doesn't stop there! Since each case deserves special attention, we will provide you with personalised advice and an individual follow-up case by case.
Join us in the LSC meeting room (bdg.63) at 12.30 on Tuesday 4/2!