On Friday 19 September 2014, Mr. Moncef Kateb, head of the WIPO staff association was summarily dismissed. This was done in advance of WIPO’s annual governing body meeting, where he was expected to criticize the controversial management style and behaviour of Director-General Francis Gurry. Please find here a letter from staff unions of the UN…
Potential changes to your pay, benefits and choice of retirement age
We would like to update you on how your pay, benefits and conditions of service will be affected by the recently concluded 79th session of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC). For background, the ICSC is an independent expert body whose mandate is to regulate and coordinate the conditions of service of staff in the…
On World Humanitarian Day, UN staff ask that those who kill their colleagues be brought to justice
Today is World Humanitarian Day, a day to recognize those who face danger and adversity in order to help others. The day was designated by the General Assembly to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq. At a solemn ceremony this afternoon at United Nations Office…
Ceremony on Thursday 7 August at 1 p.m. in solidarity with our colleagues in Gaza
As you may be aware, we have lost 11 colleagues in the current conflict in Gaza. These staff, as you may have read in the media, have gone out of their way to protect the civilian population, turning their schools into shelters and doing their best to cater to their needs. For their heroic deeds,…
Staff unions highlight management problems at UN pension fund
As you may be aware, we recently exposed a number of management problems at the pension fund. This, along with the low morale among the staff of the fund and threats to whistleblowers, is addressed in the staff union statement that was made on Wednesday to the annual meeting of the fund’s board. We encourage…
Union protests lack of whistleblower protection at UN as court rules on case of whistleblower James Wasserstrom
View press release and brief on subject .
Survey results | Résultats de l’enquête (FWA – Office space)
Results of survey on flexible work arrangements and office space You may find attached the results of the survey on on flexible work arrangements and office space, conducted in March-April 2014. Résultats de l’enquête sur les formules d’organisation du travail plus souples et sur l’espace de bureau Vous trouverez ci-joint les résultats de l’enquête sur les formules…
The situation at UNDP
You may have read in the press about the “structural change” exercise taking place at UNDP, which is leading to severe cuts in posts: generally 30 percent of posts at headquarters and 10 percent in the field. Please find here a letter that the staff federations representing all staff in the UN, agencies, funds and programmes sent…
Regularization of French taxes
As you may know, the French authorities are now taking a more proactive approach to collecting taxes. As mentioned in an earlier broadcast, bank accounts held outside France, including at the MEC, need to be declared on the tax form. Many of you have been in touch to ask about how to regularize your situation…
Protect our pension fund from the wolves of Wall Street
Sign the petition by following this link: http://bit.ly/1nRdkVe We would like to update you on the situation regarding the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund, where the CEO of the Fund is negotiating a change in rules that will increase costs, financial risks, the likelihood of inappropriate people being recruited to key positions in the $52 billion…