UNITED NATIONS, Could 12 (IPS) – As discussions on the restructuring of the United Nations — together with a potential merger of UN companies and workers lay-offs system-wide — proceed on the highest ranges of the Secretariat, the Workers Union (UNSU) is demanding an lively presence within the ongoing talks.
A proposed decision, which is predicted to be adopted on the UNSU normal assembly on Could 14, may be very particular in its calls for.
The Workers Council:
1. Calls upon the Secretary-Common to formally embody the United Nations Workers Union (UNSU) as a full participant in all points of the UN80 Initiative, together with by having designated representatives of the Union within the UN80 Activity Pressure, notably in its Working Group, with a view to make sure workers illustration within the deliberation and decision-making processes.
2. Requests that the Workers Union be granted equal consultative standing throughout the Activity Pressure, together with its Working Group, alongside different stakeholders, to supply enter on issues straight impacting workers welfare, organizational effectivity and institutional reform.
3. Emphasizes that Workers Union involvement in change administration course of with such a worldwide scale/affect is vital to supply insights into each day operations and determine potential inefficiencies and challenges for enhancing the effectiveness of the group.
Noting additional that, this is able to inherently foster possession, scale back resistance and guarantee clean implementation that will promote a tradition of steady enchancment, driving long run success.
4. Emphasizes the precedent of Workers Union involvement in pivotal institutional selections throughout extraordinary circumstances, such because the pandemic, and requests this to be acknowledged as a guideline for ongoing and future consultations.
5. Recommends that the Secretariat report back to the suitable administrative and advisory our bodies on measures taken to implement this decision, making certain compliance with current staff-management session frameworks
Presently, over 6,400 staffers work within the 39-storeyed Secretariat constructing in New York, in response to one report.
Man Candusso, a former First Vice-President of the UN Workers Union, instructed IPS there’s worth to have workers engaged within the early levels of the reform course of.
“I’ve seen that generally workers have provide you with higher concepts than administration. Nonetheless, through the years, workers consultations have been marginalized to be extra like data briefings (after the true selections had been made),” he mentioned.
In the meantime, the Workers Council:
1. Emphasizes that, as a matter of precept, workers members shouldn’t be paid much less for work carried out on the similar or greater degree than they’re at present performing or have beforehand carried out;
2. Calls upon the Workplace of Human Assets (OHR) to withdraw the Pointers and revised variations in gentle of their unjustified and arbitrary measures and the unfavorable affect on workers that they entail;
3. Requests the fast reinstatement of earlier tips and practices whereas heads of entity are given the discretion to award step-upon recruitment, according to Workers Rule 3.3(b), in a way commensurate with a candidate or Workers Member’s expertise;
4. Urges OHR to seek the advice of with and combine the views of workers members, hiring managers, heads of entity, and Member States previous to issuing or reissuing any additional associated steerage;
5. Additional urges OHR to right away inform all Secretariat workers members in a transparent and concise broadcast, in addition to a city corridor assembly, explaining the implications of the Pointers, ought to they continue to be in place for any interval following the adoption of this decision, and to speak expeditiously about additional session and revision of the Pointers;
6. Instructs the management to share this decision with the Chef de Cupboard, the Beneath-Secretaries-Common of the Division of Administration Technique, Coverage and Compliance and the Division of Operational Assist, in addition to the Assistant Secretary-Common of the Workplace of Human Assets and all heads of workplace/departments represented within the Workers Council; and
7. Additional instructs the management to flow into this decision through an e mail broadcast to all members of the United Nations Workers Union.
Requested for a response on an earlier story on Workers Union calls for, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric instructed IPS final week: “We totally perceive that the present state of affairs is a reason behind concern, and nervousness, for a lot of of our workers.”
“It is very important word that we’re within the preliminary section of formulating positions and proposals. Consultations have taken place, and they’re going to proceed to take action, because the insights of workers are valued and will likely be fastidiously thought of.”
On the world city corridor assembly in March 2025, the Secretary-Common emphasised that the UN80 Initiative is a management-led effort. Nonetheless, he in fact dedicated to consulting with workers representatives by the Workers-Administration Committee (SMC) on selections impacting the workers.
In April, in the course of the annual assembly of the SMC, administration briefed the workers representatives on the UN80 Initiative. Additionally in April, a devoted UN80 Initiative web page was created on iSeek, inviting workers at massive to submit concepts through a suggestion field. The responsive was spectacular as over 1,400 recommendations have been acquired. Administration will overview the entire recommendations, mentioned Dujarric.
A devoted extraordinary SMC assembly will likely be held in June to additional amplify session with workers representatives on the UN80 Initiative, he assured.
In the meantime the UNSU has additionally carried out a normal survey of its constituents between 11 March and 11 April 2025.
An Govt Abstract of the outcomes learn:
A complete of 1,271 responses had been acquired, which resulted in a response fee of 15.88 %1 . General, the survey has a confidence degree of 95% with a margin of error of +/- 2.5%.
From a statistical perspective, these outcomes are thought of extremely consultant. It also needs to be famous that almost all of respondents (85%) had been primarily based in New York, with 33% within the Common Service, 60% within the skilled and seven% in different job classes.
- Attributable to confidentiality points, questions requesting particular person feedback should not included within the hooked up doc. The highest key subjects affecting the respondents had been profession improvement alternatives (58.5%), price of dwelling compared to salaries and different emoluments (54.6%) and job safety (47.6%).
- Solely 31% of respondents believed that there have been credible mechanisms to make sure accountability inside their departments.
- Price range cuts (87%), organizational restructuring (56,8%) and adjustments in management/priorities (27.6%) had been seen as the best dangers to job safety for the — respondents. Solely 31.6% of respondents felt safe of their present place.
- Solely 25% believed that the hiring course of is clear, or benefit primarily based (27%). 62% of respondents didn’t foresee any prospects for profession development and 60% didn’t really feel there’s sufficient assist for profession improvement and assist to workers to transition to new roles.
- Of word, 77% of respondents had main hybrid working preparations (mixture of on-site and distant), with a majority (61.3%) working two days every week from dwelling.
- The primary advantages of telecommuting for the respondents are avoiding telecommuting time and/or prices (79.5%), higher work-life steadiness (78.4%) and improved effectivity and productiveness (69.3%).
A majority of respondents (60%) believed that the prevailing versatile open-plan/sizzling desking and shared office preparations shouldn’t be maintained, and that cubicles or non-public places of work are seen as the primary optimum on-site office association (42%).
On a optimistic word, 60% of respondents felt that occupational security and well being measures had been adequately addressed within the office. Nonetheless, solely 34% of respondents felt that current mechanisms are efficient in addressing discrimination primarily based on race within the office, with 28% having noticed such incidents.
Moreover, 45% of respondents believed that the office is accessible and inclusive for employees with disabilities.
IPS UN Bureau Report
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