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On Monday 19 December, FICSA learned that several key Member States at the Fifth Committee of the UN General Assembly wished to decrease the take home pay of staff in the Professional and higher categories by lowering the acceptable margin range between UN salaries and those in the US federal civil service. FICSA immediately launched an information and staff mobilization campaign, Update 1

From 19 to 24 December, the action continued: lobbying and exchange of information with stakeholders, technical and legal research, staff mobilization, Update 2

On 25 December FICSA was informed, Update 3 that the danger was averted at the last minute and the UN/US margin range was not changed in the resolution adopted by the 5th Committee Resolution

The forthcoming 65th FICSA Council, hosted by the European Regional Office of WHO in Copenhagen from 13 to 17 February 2012, will be called upon to formulate a strategic plan of action to oppose further attempts to cut salaries and pensions. See you there!

FICSA is pleased to announce that the General Assembly did not approve proposed changes that would have reduced salaries for the Professional and higher categories. A new base/salary scale was approved with a very slight adjustment, and the margin range of 110-120 was maintained.

Staff can now enjoy their well-deserved end-of-year holidays. FICSA sends holiday greetings to all.

UPDATE No. 2

DISCUSSIONS ON SALARIES IN THE FIFTH COMMITTEE STILL ONGOING

NO DECISION REACHED YET

As anticipated in our urgent message to the FICSA membership yesterday, discussions are still taking place in New York on the draft resolution on UN Common System issues. No conclusion has been reached yet; intense negotiations among Member States are expected to continue and perhaps to be concluded today.

The resolution on UN Common System, normally approved at each session of the UN General Assembly, contains guidelines, directives and - more and more often - decisions by Member States on our conditions of employment (including salaries, allowances and pensions); it usually addresses matters contained in the yearly report of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC). The ICSC report for 2011, currently under consideration, is available for downloading at http://icsc.un.org/library/default.asp?list=AnnualRep

This year the Fifth Committee is supposed to conclude its work today by 18h00 (i.e. midnight in Europe). Further information on the Fifth Committee can be found in http://www.un.org/en/ga/fifth/66/sessions66.shtml

At this stage nobody can reasonably foresee what is going to happen today, since discussions by the Member States representatives are being held behind closed-door meetings.

Nevertheless, we are ensuring that our voice - your voice - is heard loud and clear:

We are fed up with being asked to do more with less, and less and less…

Enough is enough!

Consequently, FICSA is intensifying its action, acting as a “crisis unit”:

·         The President, the General Secretary, the members of the Executive Committee, as well the secretariat in Geneva, are in permanent alert, in order to meet via teleconference on very short notice, whenever the situation requires urgent decisions;

·         Queries and requests for guidance from members are immediately addressed on an “as-needed” basis;

·         Intense networking and lobbying with key stakeholders is being held at all levels, including Member States, Regional Groups, organizations, staff unions and associations;

·         Technical research is being conducted, and documentation circulated to decision makers, to support an reinforce FICSA’s position;

·         Evaluation of a potential legal recourse by affected staff, has already been initiated;

·         Mobilization by staff through information campaigns, assemblies and meetings with respective senior managers has been immediate and continues.

We thank all members for support and active input in this difficult negotiation.

The FICSA Executive Committee and the staff in its secretariat are working hard to ensure a coordinated and strong response, as well as issuance of timely updates to members.

Visit FICSA at http://www.ficsa.org/

KEY MEMBER STATES LEAD AN UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK ON UN SALARIES DURING DISCUSSIONS IN THE FIFTH COMMITTEE OF THE UNGA

FICSA has been informed that during the ongoing discussions in the Fifth Committee of the 66 General Assembly, several key member states presented the following proposal which, if adopted by the General Assembly, will severely cut take home pay for staff in the Professional and higher categories beginning on 1 January 2012 and will also seriously affect the pensionable remuneration and pensions of all categories of staff.