Top UN Official Backs Unions As Staff Strikes Persist

 

The head of the United Nations office in Geneva warned last Friday that “trust” in the world body as an employer was taking a hit, as staff resumed striking over pay cuts.

Michael Moller, the director-general at the UN’s European headquarters, defended staff carrying out their second work stoppage this month, and criticised the manner in which the deductions were decided.

To read the full article click here>>.

Both the GIA and the Fair Internship Initiative  showed solidarity with the staff strike. The first day of the UN Staff strike was on Friday 16 March 2018, followed by another on Friday the 23rd of March.

The reason for the strike was that the staff union believe they have exhausted all means of reaching agreement with their employer and the ICSC. During the meeting last week in New York of the ICSC Advisory committee on post adjustment questions, it did not want to come back on its decision on the pay cut in Geneva despite an independent statistician’s report showing the use of the methodology to be doubtful. Further, their meeting with the Secretary-General did not result in a commitment to address the current cut, although there were discussions about future reform.

In such strikes, consultants and interns are encouraged to take part in the strike, however, they should first discuss this with their supervisor, who may well be striking.