An ECB spokesperson said the limitations are designed to “enable staff representatives to stay closely connected to the ongoing work and public mandate of the ECB,” while ensuring they can keep their careers on track. But staff reps alleged the move is designed to undermine their effectiveness.
“Somebody who works 100 percent is more effective than two people working 50 percent juggling two jobs at the same time,” said ECB staff committee spokesperson Carlos Bowles. Currently, the staff committee is allocated a certain number of hours for its work, which members can divvy up among themselves as they see fit.
Several committee members are also active in the IPSO trade union and are currently allowed to combine time allowances for the two roles.
“This is clearly a retaliation from President Christine Lagarde in response to the survey on her performance as ECB president that we conducted last year,” Bowles claimed. The ECB did not provide a response to this allegation.
The staff survey, first reported by POLITICO, showed that more than 50 percent of participants ranked Lagarde’s performance as “very poor” or “poor.”
“Instead of trying to improve staff relations, they are shooting the messenger,” Bowles said. The ECB also plans to place a two-term limit on the committee spokesperson (excluding Bowles from serving again), and to increase the number of staff reps from nine to 10. And the bank wants to extend the time staff reps serve on the committee to three years, up from two.
