As you may know, the Palais des Nations will undergo significant transformation over the next few years, which will see the old buildings renovated and a new office tower built to replace floors 4-10 of the E-building and to bring staff in from annexes such as UNICEF, Motta and Wilson. Called the Strategic Heritage Plan,…
Calligraphy Exhibition “Tell us Jubran”, 2-11 June 2015, Building E, Door 40, 2nd floor | Exposition Calligraphie « Dis-nous Joubran », 2-11 Juin 2015, Bâtiment E, Porte 40, 2eme étage
The UN Arabic Book Club is pleased to invite you to the Arabic calligraphy exhibition under the theme Jubran Khalil Jubran, to be held from 2 to 11 June 2015 at Door 40 (2nd floor, building E). The opening will take place on Tuesday 2 June 2015 at 5:30 pm under the patronage of the Permanent…
Breastfeeding room now renovated | Rénovation de la salle d’allaitement
As you may be aware, the breast-feeding room (PN.036 above the medical centre) has been renovated by the Staff Council. Improvements include a new sofa, fridge, cushions and other furnishings. This follows a number of requests from colleagues. We would like to thank administration for their support and to remind colleagues, following recent spot checks,…
Photos from the Children’s party | Photos de la fête des enfants 2015
This year’s children’s party was a huge success. The children got to compete in a mini olymprics, enjoy the park, and, because of the UN’s egalitarian approach to performance management, all went home with their own gold medal. The photos are now online and can be viewed here. We received a lot of enthusiastic feedback, including…
Latest on the retirement age
As we have mentioned in our previous broadcasts, the General Assembly has agreed in principle to allow staff who joined before 2014 to be able to choose to work until 65 if they wish or retire at 60 or 62. However, it asked the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), which sets our conditions of service,…
Collection for the victims of the Nepal earthquake | Collecte pour les victimes du séisme au Népal
The recent earthquake that hit Nepal has had devastating humanitarian and economic effects. In solidarity, the Nepalese community in UNOG decided to organize, in collaboration with the UNOG Staff Coordinating Council, a collection in benefit of the victims. The funds raised will be transferred in equal parts to Doctors Without Borders (Médecins sans Frontières) and…
Situation on the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
In response to many of our colleagues’ concerns, please find herein a note on the pension fund situation. NOTE ON THE SITUATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS JOINT STAFF PENSION FUND We have been very concerned by recent allegations concerning management wrongdoing at the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund. We understand these allegations are being reviewed by…
Vote to remove benefits for same-sex partners of staff defeated | Rejet de la proposition sur la suppression des bénéfices octroyés aux partenaires du même sexe
As you may have read in the press, the General Assembly Fifth Committee on Tuesday defeated a proposal, by 80 votes to 43, to remove benefits for same-sex married partners. Had it passed it would have created two classes of staff (those whose spouses can receive benefits and those whose spouses can’t) and set a…
Three-day strike at FAO and letter of support
As you may be aware, our colleagues at FAO are in the midst of a three-day strike (with possibility of extension) after management imposed a new rule on temporary staff without consultations and censured staff who had held an earlier protest on the issue. Please find here a letter of support to our colleagues at…
News on SAFI: Gluten/lactose-free products and 15% discount on 26 March | Nouveau au SAFI : Produits sans gluten et sans lactose et Rabais de 15% le 26 mars
In response to the request of many of you, SAFI now offers a wide range of products gluten and lactose-free products. Moreover, SAFI has decided to grant to all UN staff a 15% discount (instead of the usual 13%) on all items in stock this Thursday 26 March. The Staff Coordinating Council would like to…