You basically have it right - at the moment Maastricht follows the the cost of living co-efficient for The Hague (sometimes called 'the breadbasket') - apparently the cost of living in NL has reduced by 5.2% this year (cough cough BS).
Due to the nature of the agreement it is not possible to strike over this issue, but the union is currently negotiating with management as to possible solutions. The only other agency of the EU to be based in NL (and so to be affected by this) is the Patents Office - they have already negotiated a pay freeze and we will hopefully do the same.
The approx cost to freeze the salary at current levels is €8m - for the financial year MUAC is running an approx €12m budget surplus, so the money is there.......
Not exactly the best way to reward one of the hardest working and THE most efficient centres in Europe is it.
D-day, so to speak is in April. Watch this space.
Last edited by BeT; 27th February 2011 at 11:57.