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The 63rd FICSA Council took place at the United Nations in Geneva from 18 to 22 January 2010, bringing together representatives from the Federation’s 29 member associations and unions, 10 associate members, 21 FUNSAs and 16 consultative members.

The FICSA President welcomed the participants and recalled the tragic loss of life in the ranks of the United Nations, in particular in the wake of the recent earthquake in Haiti that would increase the toll of lives lost still further. He invited those present to observe one minute’s silence in honour of those who had paid the supreme sacrifice in the past year while serving the United Nations.

The President remarked that the recent United Nations General Assembly resolution on the common system and the work of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) offered the Standing Committees ample food for thought in their upcoming meetings. He thus took great pleasure in welcoming Mr. Wolfgang Stoeckl, Vice-Chair of the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), who would address Council and answer a limited number of questions from the floor.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Stoeckl reiterated the full support of the ICSC for the United Nations Secretary-General’s concept of an organization firmly anchored in the 21^st century. He then went on to address five key issues of particular interest to staff that were before the Commission: end-of-service payments; mandatory age of separation; post adjustment; hazard pay; and continuing appointments.

In the current proposal, end-of-service payments would be effected after ten years of consecutive fixed-term contracts. The General Assembly would resume its discussion of the proposal once a decision had been reached on continuing appointments. For his part, the speaker expected a positive conclusion to the debate.

Given the global discussion of increasing the age of retirement in various countries to 62, 65 and even 67, the ICSC would await the outcome of the discussion of the issue in the Pension Board before addressing the issue in 2011. For their part Member States were in favour of rejuvenating the UN secretariat and achieving a more equitable gender diversification. Mr. Stoeckl thus anticipated what he termed “an uphill struggle’.

The speaker referred to the lack of an increase in the post adjustment owing to the fact that inflation figures had dropped, thus resulting in no increase in pensionable remuneration for 2010. It also had to be remembered that under the present financial circumstances, Member States saw no reason for increasing salaries in their national civil services and were thus not inclined to increase salaries in the international civil service.

As for hazard pay, the speaker noted that the United Nations itself was increasingly becoming a target in peace-keeping operations. In Afghanistan, for example, hazard pay had been increased by 50 per cent for three months. It was possible that ultimately hazard pay might be extended beyond office hours and cover non-office locations in certain conditions.

The issue of continuing appointments was still pending; however, in respect of post adjustment, the ICSC would be addressing the issue of out-of-area expenditures and their weighting. Furthermore the ICSC had been encouraged to exercise its mandate relating to the coordination of working conditions in the common-system organizations.

Mr. Stoeckl assured Council that the members of the Commission and the staff of the ICSC secretariat recognised the quality of the FICSA submissions. Issues raised by FICSA were invariably among the best and most substantial of those submitted by the organizations and staff federations alike.

The keynote speaker, Mr. Yves Beigbeder, a former personnel officer who served at both FAO and WHO expressed his conviction that administrations needed staff representatives as reliable partners so that staff interests and concerns were both heard and considered. The active participation of staff representatives in joint staff/management committees was of importance to both parties.

The strength of FICSA, which had brought together 29 staff associations/unions and 41 others with associate, consultative or observer status, bordered on the miraculous. The existence of an independent international civil service hinged on an independent, motivated and competent staff. The Federation and its member associations/unions were essential partners in constructive dialogue with the administrations.

The areas of staff action were well known, such as the right of association and the right to fair hearings and due process. Current issues included staff safety and security, contractual arrangements, allowances and pensions and flexible age of retirement. The strength of staff representatives lay in addressing the right issues with a comprehensive knowledge of staff rules and a sense of unity.

The FICSA Standing Committees addressed those issues in greater detail throughout the week and identified the priorities for the coming year. These included among others: harmonization of the FICSA Statutes and Rules and Procedure;  implementation of the ICSC framework on contractual arrangements; inter-agency mobility; parental leave; after-service health insurance; separation age; implementation of the policy on employment of persons with disabilities; a change to eligibility criteria for the divorced surviving spouse’s benefit; staff safety and security; hazard pay for UNRWA staff; GS salary survey methodology; GS job classification standard; end-of-service grant; place-to-place surveys; the implementation of the Noblemaire principle; obtaining paid release of the FICSA General Secretary; standards of conduct and training in staff representatives and salary setting.

FICSA mourns the heartbreaking loss of UN system colleagues in Haiti, and extends its sympathy to the entire UN family and the families of colleagues lost in this tragedy. It is our sincere hope that many of the missing will be found safe.

To those colleagues who have been injured and who have experienced unbearable losses, FICSA extends its compassion and concern.

FICSA will do everything in its power to provide assistance to everyone who has been affected by this catastrophe.

The Fifth Committee adopted a resolution on the UN common system: Report of the International Civil Service Commission for 2009. The draft was adopted without a vote.

Before its adoption, the representative of the Russian Federation said he intended to support and adopt the text as submitted, but wished to make one comment:  by the text, the General Assembly would ask for a review of the termination indemnity schedule.  He would like it to be placed on record that the Assembly had already affirmed the termination indemnity schedule.  Accordingly, it would now ask for a review.  A number of delegations had concerns about the application of the system, which were shared by the Russian Federation, and more than other delegations, the United States had insisted on the inclusion of the paragraph about the review.

He explained further that the agreed text was adopted on the condition that there would be a statement by the Chair, to clarify the thrust of that paragraph.  Unfortunately, no statement was agreed.  For that reason, he himself would make the statement.  He emphasized that the Assembly would not be asking for a review of the termination indemnity schedule as a whole, but that it was simply asking that a study be done of possible cases of abuse of the system for the category of staff that had worked 10 years or more.  In his view, the proposed language did not imply that there was any abuse of the system.  Rather, it would have the Assembly examine whether there might be some abuse in that connection.

By terms of the resolution, the Assembly would take note of the Commission’s report.  In section A of the draft, on conditions of service of staff in the Professional and higher categories, the text would have the Assembly reaffirm that the range of 110 to 120 for the margin between the remuneration of officials in the Professional and higher categories and that of the comparator civil service (the United States federal civil service) should continue to apply, on the understanding that the margin would be maintained at a level around the midpoint of 115 over time.  For the period from 1 January to 31 December, it is estimated at 113.8.

Regarding the base/floor salary scale, the text would recall the Assembly’s resolution 44/198 by which it had established a floor net salary level of officials in comparable positions serving at the base city of the comparator civil service.  It would approve, with effect from 1 January 2010, as recommended by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), the revised base/floor scale of gross and net salaries for staff in the Professional and higher categories contained in an annex to the Commission’s report.

On gender balance and geographical distribution, the text would have the Assembly note with disappointment the insufficient progress made with regard to women’s representation, particularly at the senior level.  It would welcome a decision by the Commission to implement outreach initiatives to attract, develop and retain the most talented men and women, and encourage the Commission to consider further issues relating to female staff retention.

Concerning conditions of service for both categories of staff, the text would have the Assembly take note of the Commission’s recommendation to introduce end-of-service severance pay in common system organization for fixed-term staff involuntarily separating from the organization upon the expiration of their contract after 10 or more years of continuous service.  It would decide to revert to the question of the proposed end-of-service severance pay at its sixty-fifth session.

Further to the text, the Assembly would take note of the recommendation of governing bodies of the United Nations common system organizations to harmonize their termination indemnity schedule with that of the United Nations, and also request the Commission to review the application of the termination indemnity.  It would reiterate that the death grant should not be payable to secondary dependants and reiterate its call to the governing bodies of the common system organization to align their provisions regarding death grants with those of the United Nations.

On the mandatory age of separation, the text would have the Assembly request the Commission to report, at its sixty-sixth session, on the possibility of changing the mandatory age of separation, including the implications in the areas of human resources policies and pensions.  As for the senior management network, it would note the decision of the Chief Executives Board to discontinue work on the senior management network, and request the Commission to monitor the adequacy of measures aimed at improving management capacity and performance within the United Nations common system.

World AIDS Day Statement 2009 from UN Plus

Today communities around world will remember the millions who have died of AIDS and speak out in solidarity with those living with HIV. While many of us, thanks to access to treatment, are able to lead full and productive lives, the global response is still not meeting the needs of the vast majority of those living with HIV. Of the almost 10 million people living with HIV in need of treatment, only around 4 million have access, and availability of second and third line therapies is still a challenge.

Aside from the medial and scientific hurdles that must still be overcome, we continue to face enormous socio‐cultural, political, legal and economic challenges to an effective and universal AIDS response. Of particular concern this year, we witnessed a growing trend towards criminalization of transmission in many countries as well as the introduction of legislation against men who have sex with men. In some parts of the world governments have demonstrated a lack of willingness to support life‐saving harm reduction initiatives and in November the World Health Organization announced that AIDS is the leading cause of death of women between the ages of 14 and 44.

Nonetheless, we have seen progress during the last twelve months. Countries have reported that with increasing treatment availability people are living longer and fewer are dying from AIDS related illnesses. The United States of America finally announced the removal of entry restrictions for people living with HIV and we hope that other countries will do the same in the year to come. In India, the longstanding antisodomy law ‐ Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code ‐ was repealed, paving the way for better legal protection for men who have sex with men and transgendered people. At its 98th session in June 2009, the International Labour Conference held the first of two tripartite discussions to develop a new international labour standard on AIDS and the world of work. It is expected to be adopted in June 2010 and focuses on prevention and the elimination of discrimination on the basis of HIV status.

During 2009, we witnessed the leadership and advocacy of the UN Secretary‐General through his outspoken support for the rights of people living with HIV and those most at risk, including people who use drugs, women, sex workers, men who have sex with men. Networks of people living with HIV around the world began to implement the People Living with HIV Stigma Index, which will assist our communities to monitor and respond to the stigma and discrimination we experience. In recent days, results of the Index have been launched in China and the UK, with the participation of high level government officials. At an international consultation in Tunisia earlier this year, and during several follow‐up meetings, people living with HIV came together to reclaim and redefine the ‘positive prevention’ agenda as ‘Positive Health Dignity and Prevention’. Meanwhile, others have reaffirmed the important links between treatment and prevention.

In 2009, membership of UN Plus has grown to 170 members, representing 28 UN entities and 43 countries. We launched our local presence in South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland. It is clear that stigma and discrimination remain the greatest barriers to effective and comprehensive prevention, treatment, care and support, including within the UN. We are convinced that the meaningful participation of people living with HIV is crucial in overcoming such barriers and that our role in the development, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of AIDS‐related programmes and policies must be a nonnegotiable. As UN staff living with HIV, we are committed to focusing our efforts towards the rapid achievement of Universal Access and we wish you all the best for your own efforts towards this goal in the coming year.

To join UN Plus, contact the following UN Plus regional representatives:

Eastern Europe (Moscow, Russia): Anastasia Kamylk‐ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it             

Central Europe (Geneva, Switzerland): Paul Morejon‐ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it                      

Latin America (and Europe) : Romain Sirois‐ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it                                             

West and Central Africa (Senegal) : Helene Badini‐ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it                               

Eastern Africa (Kenya): Jane Sinyei‐ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it                                               

Eastern Africa (Rwanda): Colette Mukamusoni‐ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it                       

Central Africa (Tanzania)‐ Emmanuel Mziray‐ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it                                    

Southern Africa: Malawi): Siphiwe Kandiero‐ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it                                 

Asia (Pakistan): Masood Fareed ‐ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For general inquiries on UN Plus contact the UN Plus Coordinator, Bhatupe Mhango: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The United Nations Dual Career and Staff Mobility Programme assists globally mobile families adapt to new duty stations, helps expatriate spouses/partners maintain their profes­sional careers and find employment in the local market. This can maintain family unity and professional careers, while staff mo­rale and work performance are increased and the pool of expertise that spouses/partners represent can be utilised. In many duty stations, Local Expatriate Spouse Associations (LESAs) have been set up. See www.unstaffmobility.org

The Geneva LESA Initiative Committee is currently setting up a LESA in Geneva to make most effective use of the pool of resources that UN spouses/partners with professional skills and experience represent. They need your support and that of your spouse/partner, so please join them!

Contact Elodie Cantier-Aristide or Kay Xuereb at the addresses below:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

FICSA strongly deplores the vicious attack on our WFP colleagues working in Islamabad. The attack, which killed five workers of the World Food Program on Monday, pushed the U.N. to temporarily close its offices in the country and exposed the vulnerability of many international relief agencies working to provide aid to millions of civilians. As reported by the Associated Press, the suicide bomber was dressed Monday as a paramilitary officer and was allowed to enter the World Food Program offices — apparently bypassing the normal security procedures — after asking the guards outside if he could use the bathroom. The WFP compound was heavily fortified and this breach of security should have been prevented.

UNICEF, UNHCR and WFP have all lost staff in Pakistan over the past six months. We remind Member States of their responsibility to protect UN system staff, and call on all those responsible for security to respect the policies and procedures in place.

The Federation wishes to convey its condolences to the family members and friends of those who lost their life serving the cause of the United Nations. May their memory be honoured in the international community.

The 56^th session of the Pension Board met in Vienna from 13 to 17 July 2009. FICSA, which has a seat as an observer at the Board, was represented by Mr. Mike Donoho, IAEA, Chair of the FICSA Standing Committee on Legal Questions.

FICSA statement to the Pension Board (FICSA/CIRC/1073)

FICSA reiterated its keen interest in safeguarding its members’ rights to a secure pension in troubled times and beyond, which needed to be achieved against a backdrop of three major developments:

• The drop in the market value of the Pension Fund’s assets
• The greater longevity of those covered by the Fund and the impact this will have on the actuarial valuation
• The shift in staffing trends as evidenced by the new types of contracts, in particular the increasing number of short- or fixed-term contracts and the diminishing number of permanent contracts.

FICSA urged the Board to reverse the decision to index the North American equities held by the Fund, while remarking that the Fund continues to be prudently managed. FICSA noted that the closer liaison between the Fund and the Investment Management Service would clearly strengthen the resolve to maintain an investment policy based on obtaining an optimal return over the long term, while applying the criteria of safety, profitability, liquidity and convertibility.

FICSA stressed that it would argue strongly against a change from the Fund’s current defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan in light of the risks involved, and that the Federation would liaise closely with the participants’ representatives in the Working Group on Plan Design on this and the many other issues under discussion.

FICSA fully supported the position of the Federation of Associations of Former International Civil Servants (FAFICS) on lowering the duration of marriage from 10 to 5 years for eligibility to receive a surviving divorced spouse’s benefit.

Investments of the Fund

During the extremely volatile market environment, the market value of the Fund’s assets decreased to $US 29.0 billion on 31 March 2009 from $US 40.6 billion on 31 March 2008, a decrease of approximately $US 11.6 billion or 28.6 per cent. By 1 July 2009, the Fund recovered to $US 32.6 billion. In hindsight, the recommendation made at the 55^th session of the Board to further diversify by adding alternative asset classes proved to be sound because those recommended asset classes lost less (20%) than global equities (40.8%). Over the last 7 years, the Fund achieved an annualized return of 4.5%, outperforming both the 3.0% return of the new benchmark and the 3.3% return of the old benchmark.

The Representative of the Secretary-General mentioned that it was fortunate that the Fund had a defined benefit arrangement as this meant that beneficiaries were protected from market volatility.

The Board expressed its appreciation for the performance of the Fund’s investments over the policy benchmark despite difficulties encountered in the extremely volatile financial markets.

Bank charges on UN pensions

FAFICS presented a note to the Board regarding bank charges incurred by pensioners on UN benefit payments. A survey had revealed the bank charges being imposed by banks in 17 countries, and the number of retirees on small pensions that were affected. FAFICS requested the Fund to seek ways to reduce or eliminate bank charges incurred by retirees, and also proposed that the Fund absorb bank charges on small pension payments.

The Secretary/CEO of the Fund stated that the Fund’s secretariat would continue to work closely with pensioners and banking institutions regarding the bank charges issue, and the Board recommended that the Fund’s efforts in this regard be continued.

Accountability statement

A paper on a comprehensive accountability statement for the Fund including the accountability of the investment-related activities was presented to the Board. The Board requested a number of amendments to the statement, including a definition of accountability and a description of the roles and responsibilities of the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly and the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ).

Progress Report of the Working Group on Plan Design

It was reported that the Working Group decided during its second meeting to focus on the following general topics: (a) normal retirement age; (b) reaffirmation of the defined benefit nature of the Fund, while looking into the feasibility of a defined contribution type plan; (c) 2002 recommendations already approved in principle by the Assembly; (d) enhanced full withdrawal settlements for participants with less than five years of contributory service; (e) accumulation rates, progressive and regressive; (f) earlier cost-of-living adjustments for deferred retirement benefits; and (g) FAFICS prioritized list of its previous proposals to be submitted at the next meeting of the Working Group.

FAFICS provided the Group with a list of priorities, namely that: (i) the defined benefit nature of the Fund should be maintained; (ii) the normal retirement age should be extended to age 65; (iii) the accumulation rate should revert to 2 per cent a year; (iv) full withdrawal settlement provision should provide for enhanced benefits for those separating with less than five years; (v) benefits for family members should be enhanced; and (vi) the 0.5 per cent reduction in the first consumer price index (CPI) adjustment due after retirement should be eliminated. It was noted that increasing the normal retirement age should not only be looked at in terms of the positive financial impact, but consideration should also be given to increasing the age, believing that employees should have the right to go on working to any age as long as they are capable of doing the job well.

It was decided that the Working Group should present its final report in July 2010.

Divorced spouse’s benefit

When discussing benefits at its 55th session in 2008, the Board approved several amendments to the UNJSPF Regulations concerning benefit provisions with respect to family or former family members. At the same time, FAFICS suggested that a requirement of Article 35 bis (b)(i) with regard to a continuous period of 10 years of marriage, during which contributions were paid to the Fund, should be reduced to 5 years, to align the period with the current vesting period of five years. The Board requested that appropriate text be presented by the Secretary/CEO for its consideration at its fifty-sixth session.

The Board had a lengthy debate on the issue. The executive heads, especially, wished to assess the potential impact the suggested amendment would have on their respective member organizations’ human resources policies, particularly in respect of other benefits of staff members, including eligibility to after-service health insurance. Therefore, the Board decided to postpone its decision on the proposed amendment to Article 35 bis until its next session in 2010.

The impact of currency fluctuations on pension benefits

In 2007, the Board requested the Fund to carry out three separate reviews in respect to the impact of currency fluctuations on UNJSPF pension benefits. The main focus of the Board’s consideration of the three studies in 2008 was on the impact of a declining US dollar on the local currency track pensions of Professional staff. In 2008, a review in respect to Professional staff revealed two issues that the CEO noted would require the attention of the Board, namely (i) the wide variations in local currency track pensions for those separating from 2002-2005 and (ii) the continued, but moderating downward trend in local currency track benefits for those separating after 2005.

On the basis of continued monitoring, as reflected in the status reports and in the report presented to the Board, the CEO found that:

• The wide variations experienced in respect to the local currency track amounts and thus in the corresponding income replacement ratios for separations from 2002-2005 had subsided.
• The continued but moderating downward trends in the local currency track amounts and thus in the corresponding income replacement ratios for separations after 2005 had leveled off and appeared to remain within a reasonable range of the targeted rate.
• The local currency track amounts, in cases where the cost-of-living differential factor was applicable, would be closer to the targeted income replacement rate if there was no application of the special index provision.

The Secretary CEO proposed the suspension of the special index provision, but the Board decided to defer its decision on the matter until its next session in 2010. The Board also requested the Secretary/CEO to present a report in 2010 with a recommendation on one or more solutions that would mitigate wide fluctuations in the income replacement ratios. It also requested the Fund to provide a simplified guide to the two track feature of the pension adjustment system, to help provide a better understanding of it, and why there may be fluctuations in the amounts payable between different points in time.

Provision to allow purchase of full contributory service by part-time staff

The Board discussed paragraph 20 of the Report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) concerning the purchase of additional years of contributory service by part-time staff. Recalling the terms of the Board’s previous discussion of the issue, it was suggested that there might have been a misunderstanding of the Board’s intention which was not, as it might have appeared, to violate the long-standing and accepted principle of income replacement.

During the discussions it was clarified that the intent had been to propose a mechanism for full-time staff to make arrangements for the continuation of full pension contributions during periods of reduced employment through existing leave without pay provisions. Thus, it had been the intention that the proposed conditions should apply in circumstances where a staff member who had previously been in full-time employment, changed to a part-time basis and then possibly reverted to a full-time basis. It had not been the intention that members of staff whose contract of employment had been established initially on a part-time basis could seek to take advantage of a possibility of gaining benefits as if for full-time work.

The Board felt that, given the complex legal and actuarial issues, it would be prudent to review and further analyze the issue during its next session. The Board therefore agreed to reconsider this question on the basis of a paper to be submitted by IAEA at the Board’s next session in July 2010.

UNAT Judgments of interest to the Board and the revised system of the Administration of Justice of the United Nations

The Board noted that no new judgments of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal (UNAT) concerning pension matters had been issued since July 2008. Pursuant to paragraph 51 of UN General Assembly resolution 63/253 concerning Administration of Justice at the United Nations, the Board considered the new system as approved by the General Assembly.

The Board took note of Article 2.9 of the Statute of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal, which clearly established the Tribunal’s jurisdiction with regard to pension matters, namely the competence to hear an appeal of a decision of the Standing Committee acting on behalf of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Board alleging non-observance of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. The Board was informed that in accordance with paragraph 46 of the said resolution, pending cases from UNJSPF would be transferred to the Appeals Tribunal as from the abolishment of UNAT.

The Board noted that the new Appeals Tribunal would have the same jurisdiction as that of the former Administrative Tribunal on the matters arising out of decisions of the Standing Committee of the Board.

The Association of Professional Staff (APS) and the Field Staff Association (FSA) today signed the RECOGNITION AGREEMENT with FAO establishing the Association of Professionals in FAO (AP in FAO). The recognition agreement was signed by James Butler, FAO Deputy Director-General on behalf of FAO and by David Macfarlane, President of APS, and Edward Seidler, Chairperson of FSA.

This landmark agreement sees the two associations representing professional staff merge into one association representing all professional staff in FAO. The new AP in FAO will create a united and stronger representation of FAO professional staff as FAO continues on its path of ‘reform with growth’.

Mr. Butler commended the two staff bodies on their merger and welcomed the new association as a stronger, united and more effective interlocutor with FAO management in these times of change.

The new association will now negotiate a Procedural Agreement with FAO management which will outline the mechanisms under which it will function and the support to be received from FAO.

The first General Assembly of the joint membership will be held in September in order to ratify the association’s new Statutes and Rules of Procedure.

There is no need for re-enrolment in the new association for current members of APS and FSA – they are considered to be members of AP in FAO.