We know the UN’s got talent and this year we’re out to prove it. For that reason, the 2011 staff party, which takes place on Friday 9 December, will feature a staff talent show. You will have three minutes to dazzle your colleagues with your artistic brilliance by showcasing a talent, alone or as a…
Staff survey on the retirement age and related pension issues
The United Nations and the specialized agencies are considering whether to change the age at which you will have to retire, as well as other matters, such as how to reduce the effect of currency fluctuations on your pension. We feel it is important that they consider your views. To this end, we would be…
Extraordinary General Assembly of Staff on Tuesday 12 July 2011
The Staff-Management Coordination Committee (SMCC), which is the Secretariat’s annual staff-management negotiations, ended last week. As promised we would like to inform you on its outcome, particularly in relation to how preparations are being made for the difficult period ahead that may impact us all. We will also inform you on outcomes related to mobility,…
Update on UN budget cuts
As the Coordinating Council brought to your attention back in March, the Secretary-General asked heads of department to reduce their budget proposals for the 2012-2013 biennium. As you will see in these memos, the consolidated proposal for the regular budget of the whole UN has been put to Member States and will “entail a net…
Lively discussions at staff townhall on mobility
The staff townhall on mobility, organized on 31 May in response to a draft staff-management proposal, turned out to be lively and informative. During the session, a number of staff provided testimonies on how they had moved around the system or had attempted to do so and what the benefits and costs of these had…
Strong turnout at staff townhall on pensions
Two hundred staff turned out for the staff townhall on pensions, organized by the Council on 5 May. It began with a presentation by the Geneva pension fund office informing on the state of the fund, which is healthy, and the implications of a declining dollar. However, it was noted that there is a cost…
Council condemns three percent cuts
The staff unions of the United Nations have issued a joint statement to the Secretary-General condemning his 7 March instruction in which he gave heads of offices and departments 48 hours to cut three percent from their 2012-2013 budget proposals. The UNOG Staff Coordinating Council is a co-author of this statement. The instruction came as a surprise…
Collection for Japan
In order to demonstrate our support and solidarity with its victims, the UNOG Staff Coordinating Council together with our Japanese colleagues is organizing a staff collection on Thursday 31 March 2011 at strategic points thoughout the Palais and its annexes. At 5 p.m. on the same day in Hall XIV, the UN Music Club is…
Council makes referendum proposal to change mandate duration and election dates
Meeting on 19 January, the Coordinating Council voted to put to referendum an amendment to its rules that would allow the next Council a two-year mandate and for Council elections to take place in the first half of March instead of the second half of February. If passed, this would bring the Council in line…
Council meets with UN HR Chief Catherine Pollard
The Council met Friday with Assistant Secretary-General of Human Resources Management, Catherine Pollard. The meeting covered a wide range of issues. These included those connected with the recent human resources resolution of the General Assembly, such as the implementation of continuing appointments, five-year fixed term appointments and career development and mobility. Also discussed were possible changes…