ECA reiterates SG’s commitment to involve staff in review of UN Secretariat regulations

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 27 April 2009 (ECA) - The XXIV session of the General Assembly of the UN global staff federation (CCISUA) kicked off in Addis Ababa today with assurances that the staff union would be fully involved in the current review of UN Secretariat regulations.

Addressing presidents of staff unions/associations of the global UN Secretariat and several UN agencies who are attending the meeting, Mr. Josué Dioné, Director, Food Security and Sustainable Development Division and Officer-in-Charge of ECA said that the review of regulations and rules of the United Nations Secretariat, which involves the introduction of a new contract system, could be creating anxiety among sections of staff.

But he reiterated the Secretary General’s commitment to involve staff at all stages of the reviews.

“CCISUA and its member Unions could play an important role in researching and clarifying issues for staff, to ensure effective staff input as well as sharing of information about the process and the eventual outcome”, he assured.

Mr. Dione praised CCISUA’s excellent coordinating experience within the UN system, saying it is “one best practice our various agencies can start with” to be more useful to the countries the UN serves.

He described ECA staff members as “the greatest force behind the Secretariat’s efforts to assist African countries to forge closer partnership among themselves and with other regions, as a way of harnessing regional resources, calling ECA staff members “the organization’s most precious and valuable resource.”

Themes to be discussed at the XXIV session of the General Assembly include HIV/AIDS in the work place, local staff salary survey methodology, safety and security of staff, staff-management relations, and general policies relating to staff remuneration as coordinated by the International Civil Service Commission.

Mr. Dioné who was speaking on behalf of ECA’s Executive Secretary, My Abdoulie Janneh, assured participants of the importance his Commission attaches to the meeting, adding that “ECA is always supportive of any forum seeking to find ways of improving and safeguarding the safety, security, welfare and progress of the staff.”

CCISUA Chairperson, Mr. Christopher Land-Kazlauskas, also addressed the opening session of the General Assembly, which ends 29 April 2009.

Issued by the ECA Information and Communication Service
P.O. Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

Tel: 251 11 5445098
Fax: +251 11 5510365
E-mail: ecainfo@uneca.org
Web: www.uneca.org