Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Last week, as President of the Field Staff Union (FSU), I had the privilege, alongside my two Vice Presidents, Ms. Jackline Omondi and Mr. Paul Smith, of attending the XIII Staff-Management Committee (SMC) meeting held in Vienna.
I would like to take this opportunity to share a summary of the key discussions and outcomes.
The SMC met from Monday, 7 April, through Saturday, 12 April, with a comprehensive agenda focused on staff welfare and conditions of service.
Three critical and time-sensitive topics dominated the discussions:
- UN80 Initiative
- The Financial Crisis
- Downsizing Policy
Given their importance, these discussions extended well beyond the scheduled time.
Key Outcome:
The Secretary-General has tasked the UN80 Task Force and Working Groups with developing proposals in the following areas:
- Identifying efficiencies and improvements within existing arrangements.
- Implementing all mandates issued by Member States.
- Exploring structural changes and program realignment across the UN system, with a focus on rationalizing resources.
These proposals are expected to be finalized by end of June 2025 and will be shared with staff representatives within the SMC for information and consultation.
To support this process, the SMC will convene regular ad hoc meetings to closely monitor progress and ensure transparency.
Additionally, management will engage directly with all staff through broadcasts and various communication channels to provide updates and encourage staff involvement.
The final report from the XIII SMC will be shared with you as soon as it is available.
The FSU Executive remains actively engaged with management at both duty stations and global levels. We are closely monitoring developments and will continue to keep you informed as the situation evolves.
We will continue to work with management to ensure that we collaboratively bring this situation under control.
In solidarity,
Milan Victor Dawoh