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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! |
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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. |
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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/ |
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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.
Agenda Item 141: United Nations Common System - 17 December 2011
B. Conditions of service of staff in the Professional and higher categories
Inserts the following chapeau paragraph immediately after the heading of Section B.
Recalls
paragraph 103 of the report of the Commission and recognizes that specific measures have been undertaken on national civil services’ conditions of service by respective Member States in order to cope with ongoing financial crisis and their budgetary concerns;
4. Evolution of the margin
Deletes paragraph 1 of the section in Rev.2 of the draft resolution and add the following paragraph 3bis after paragraph 3.
3bis. Decides
that the range of margin between the net remuneration of officials in the Professional and higher categories of the United Nations in New York and officials in comparable positions in the comparator civil service should be 100 to 110, as from 1 January 2012, on the understanding that the margin would be maintained at a level around the desirable midpoint of 105 over a period of time;
2. Post adjustment matters
Add the following four paragraphs after paragraph 1.
1bis. Requests
the Commission to adjust the post adjustment multiplier in New York to ensure the margin between the net remuneration of officials in the Professional and higher categories of the United Nations in New York and officials in comparable positions in the comparator civil service at the level of desirable midpoint of 105 as set out in paragraph 3bis, section B.4 of the current resolution at the earliest time possible;
1ter. Also requests
the Commission to adjust the post adjustment multipliers at other duty stations to ensure that staff serving in those duty stations have the same purchasing power with staff in New York at the earliest time possible following the adjustment set out in paragraph 1bis of the current resolution;
1quater. Further requests
the Commission to report to the Assembly at its sixty-seventh session the Commission’s decisions and actions regarding paragraph 1bis and 1ter of the current resolution;
1quinquies. Requests
the Secretary-General to include the information on financial implications, in respect of the United Nations Secretariat, of the Commission’s decisions and actions set out in paragraph 1bis and 1ter of the current resolution in the context of performance reports of the budget.
If approved, the salaries in NY would be decreased by USD 6,300 a year at the P-1 level and the cuts would range up to USD 16,600 a year at the D2 level.
The proposal is political. There is no technical reason for it other than making savings on the backs of staff.
Very intense discussions are taking place in New York, which reflect a divergence of opinion among Member States.
Member States would like to reach a decision no later than 22 December, when the GA resolution on the common system is normally adopted.
FICSA intends to continue its action against this unacceptable attack on our conditions of service and will keep its membership informed on developments.
FICSA urges its members to mobilise by sharing this information with the staff or by holding extraordinary assemblies to inform them.
FICSA also urges the members to approach their senior managers as soon as possible to express their concern and disappointment and seek the opinion of the administrations on this issue.
We are fed up with being asked to do
more with less,
and less,
and less…
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
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65th FICSA Council: Dates and venue |
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Dear Colleagues/Chers collègues/Estimados Colegas,
The WHO/EURO Staff Association will host the next 65th session of the FICSA Council in Copenhagen from 13 to 17 February 2012. Further details will be sent to you closer to the time.
We would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank the WHO Staff Association and its Administration for the kind invitation and facilities and very much look forward to the next Council session.
With best regards,
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L’Association du personnel de L'OMS, bureau régional pour l'Europe accueillera le 65ème conseil de la FICSA à Copenhague du 13 au 17 février 2012. Des informations à ce sujet vous seront communiquées ultérieurement.
Nous profitons de cette occasion pour remercier sincèrement l’Association du personnel de l'OMS Europe ainsi que son Administration pour l’invitation et l’infrastructure mise à notre disposition lors de notre prochain conseil.
Cordialement,
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La Asociación de Personal de la OMS, Oficina regional para la Europa, hospedará el próximo 65 sesión del Consejo de la FICSA del 13 al 17 de febrero de 2012 en Copenhague. Los detalles del evento se darán a conocer de forma oportuna.
Aprovechamos la oportunidad para agradecer profundamente a la Asociación del Personal de la OMS Europa y a su Administración por su amable invitación y por permitir el uso de sus instalaciones y desde este momento auguramos una provechosa sesión del próximo Consejo.
Cordial saludo,
Marie-Thérèse Conilh de Beyssac
General Secretary/Secrétaire générale/Secretaria General |
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The Staff Federations carried out two staff surveys for consideration of the Working Group on the Mandatory Age of Separation: one jointly coordinated by CCISUA and UNISERV, and the other by FICSA. The surveys were structured somewhat differently, but both requested staff members’ opinion on whether the MAS should be increased (the CCISUA/UNISERV survey specified an increase to 65). Staff member responses to the question are summarized in the following Table.
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Staff positions on whether the MAS should be raised*
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CCISUA/UNISERV
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FICSA
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Yes
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26.7%
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52.6%
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Yes, but only if retain option to retire at 60/62
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52.8%
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n/a
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No
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18.1%
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39%
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No opinion/Don't know
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2.4%
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8.5%
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Total responses
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8039
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2843
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*CCISUA/UNISERV question specified an increase to age 65
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The CCISUA/UNISERV survey allowed staff to express support for a MAS increase conditional upon the preservation of existing staff’s right to retire at 60/62. Out of the 8,039 respondents that answered the MAS question, 79.5% of respondents expressed conditional or unconditional support for an increase in the MAS to 65 (52.8% and 26.7% respectively). Survey respondents were evenly split along gender lines and had an average age of 46 years. 42% of respondents were from the General Service, and 40% Professionals, Directors, and above.
The FICSA survey, which has 2,843 responses, provided options for unconditioned support for or opposition to a MAS increase. 53% expressed unconditioned support for an increase in the MAS. The proportion of respondents that expressed opposition to a MAS increase (39%) was significantly higher than in the CCISUA/UNISERV survey (18.1%). Among those respondents that favoured an increase in the MAS, 83% preferred a MAS of 65 years over a common MAS of 62 for all staff regardless of the date of entry on duty, provided it could be exercised as an option by the staff already on board at the time of implementation. A majority of respondents (62.6%) were at least 45 years old, including 26.6% that were at least 55. Respondents were relatively evenly split between General Service and Professional staff (47.6% and 46.5% respectively) and were predominantly stationed in Europe (74.1% of respondents).
The Staff Associations and staff members surveyed particularly emphasized the role of staff discretion in the decision to work beyond the MAS. 74.3% of CCISUA/UNISERV respondents felt that, in the event of a MAS increase, the decision to work beyond the current mandatory age of separation should be made by staff members, compared to 15.2% who thought the decision should be made by the Executive Head or administration. FICSA did not include a question about discretion but noted that similar sentiments were often expressed in the comments left by survey respondents. In a joint statement, Staff Associations argued that executive head discretion on the matter is arbitrary and unfair. |
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Job action at CERN 22 June |
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About 700 people, staff members for the majority but also retirees, answered the call of the CERN Staff Council by participating in a demonstration to say “NO to the Diktat of the Member states” and “Yes to real concertation”. Those present also signed a Resolution adopted by the Staff Council on 16 June that requested, while waiting for all the relevant elements of the pensions dossier, in particular an assessment of the impact of the increase in life expectancy, the Management to withdraw its proposal and the Finance Committee and CERN Council to postpone the discussion on the proposal concerning the second package of measures for the pensions for future staff members and beneficiaries of the CERN Pension fund.
FICSA fully supported the action, organizing its members to send letters of support. The FICSA General Secretary attended the job action and read out the Federation's statement.
More info and video
FICSA statement of support to CERN Staff Association |
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Protect UN Pensions from sharp fluctuations |
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The 64th FICSA Council recommended that a petition in support of the use of a 120-month moving average exchange rate for calculation of local-track benefits be introduced to replace the use of a 36-month average, that is the current approach. This measure, already approved in principle by the 57th UN Joint Staff Pension Board (UNJSPB), would result in reducing the impact of steep currency fluctuations on the calculation of pension benefits.
FICSA is pleased to inform you that the petition is now on-line. We urge all staff to sign by 8 July 2011.
English
French
Spanish
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Good news about funding UN Cares |
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FICSA received the following note from UN Cares:
As you may well have heard by now, last week the UN Secretariat has indicated it will contribute $350,000 to UN Cares for the 2010-11 biennium, and that it intends to plan for the same amount for 2012-13, from within the regular United Nations budget.
This is a quick email to celebrate this outcome of the advocacy of many, including all of you.
I send my very genuine thanks for your part in supporting UN Cares and holding out the hope that a solution would be found.
In keeping with previously approved budgets, my first priority for the money, is to fund two of the three unfilled Regional Coordinator posts as soon as we can, and I will make a decision on that shortly, after a final budget review. |
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FICSA Handbook on Staff Representation