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Employees Union

Founded on 2 May 1977 at the EUI

EUI Employees Union: history and evolution

  • Within the framework of the right of association, a trade union was established at the EUI on 2 May 1977, affiliated with the Brussels section of the Trade Union of International and European Officials (SFIE). This affiliation was formalised through an agreement signed in 1978.
  • On 21 January 1992, during its General Assembly, the EUI Union decided to join UIL, the Italian Federation of Trade Unions, further strengthening its representation at both national and institutional levels. This led to the signing of the Consultation Tool for the EUI and the Italian Federation of Trade Unions (UIL) on 18 March 1992, formalising the recognition of the Union’s role in staff representation.

Over the following years, the Union continued to consolidate its position within the broader European trade union framework:

  • On 23 May 1994, CGIL Ricerca and UIL Ricerca in Ispra established Syndicat Travailleurs des Institutions Union Européenne (STIUE) to enhance the representation of staff within EU institutions in Italy. On 22 June 1995, the EUI Union formally joined the STIUE reinforcing its role at a European level.
  • On 29 September 2000 the General Assembly of the EUI Union voted in favour of joining Union Syndicale Fédérale (USF), aligning with a pan-European federation of unions representing staff in international and European institutions.
  • As a result, the EUI Union adopted the title ‘UIL-USF (Union Syndicale de Florence)’, ensuring the continuity of the Consultation Tool Agreement between the EUI and UIL.

Transition to the US IUE Florence and the New Framework Agreement

  • In 2018, US IUE Florence was formally established as an Italian association, marking an evolution in the Union’s structure. At this time, the acronym ‘UIL’ was deliberately omitted from the Union’s title, reflecting its independent identity while maintaining its commitment to representing EUI staff.
  • The proposed text of a new agreement was the initiative of the US IUE Florence. It was drafted by Lotta Svantesson and Serena Belligoli, and reviewed by Lotta Svantesson, Marc Steiert, and Ben Carver. The Union Executive Board approved it on 23 September 2024.
  • The Executive Board of US IUE Florence (Mandate 2022–2025) submitted the proposed Framework Agreement to the EUI authorities in October 2024. Following the request from US IUE Florence to establish a new Framework Agreement that accurately reflects the evolving institutional landscape and the Union’s role in representing EUI staff, negotiations were initiated in January 2025. Both parties worked collaboratively to refine and finalise the agreement, resulting in the new Agreement.
  • With the signature of the new EUI Framework Agreement on 10 April 2025, the Consultation Tool for the EUI and the Italian Federation of Trade Unions (UIL) of 18 March 1992 is replaced. US IUE Florence consulted UIL. After that the EUI terminated the 1992 agreement, prior to the signature of this agreement.