Last week Management abruptly terminated negotiations at the Staff-Management Committee (SMC II) in Mexico City (see letter). It is now trying to change the rules of SMC so that it doesn’t have to negotiate with staff again. If Management gets its way, you will lose labour rights that employees in the rest of the world take for granted. The consequences will be quick to follow:

• ongoing budget negotiations could lead to a second wave of job cuts at the end of this year but there will be no guidelines on downsizing in place nor right for staff unions to be consulted;
• a new rule allowing Management to terminate you on grounds of ill-health without access to a disability pension could be pushed through;
• a new rule designed to get around the UN Dispute Tribunal, whereby Management won’t have to give a reason for not renewing your contract could be in place within months;
• Umoja could be implemented and administrative posts shifted from Geneva to a “regional service centre” without any negotiation with the Council;
• A revised proposal on mobility could be taken to the General Assembly without further consultation with staff;
• the Council may lose the right to negotiate on new rules being considered for shift workers in Geneva (in Security and central support services).

The undermining by Management of staff rights should come as no surprise as it falls in line with a policy paper discussed earlier this year behind closed doors (see paper attached).

Staff need to stand united and strong. We therefore invite you a townhall this Thursday at 2 p.m. in Room 17 (1st floor, E building). We will brief you on the current situation, how we intend to move forward and what you can do to help.