From the Staff Committee 2011-2012
(202) 458-6230- Fax (202) 458-3466
January 27th, 2012
SN- 35/11-12 Original: English
Reflections of the Staff Committee on the “conversion” of trust appointments
The Staff Committee wishes to inform staff members that in a letter dated December 9, 2011, it expressed its concern to the Secretary General at the decision to convert trust appointments into permanent positions.
In its letter, the Staff Committee requested information about the criteria that would be employed to decide which positions would be converted and expressed its willingness to take part in determining those criteria. It also made clear its conviction that observance of the rules in force on trust appointments would demonstrate a genuine appetite to adopt austerity measures that were fair and equitable to the staff of the Secretariat.
Having received no reply and taking into account the proposal put by the Secretariat to the Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Affairs (CAAP) (CP/CAAP-3096/12 add. 4 rev. 1), which envisages the separation from service of five staff members occupying trust positions, the return of seven staff members holding a trust position to their previous appointment, and the conversion of seven trust appointments into permanent positions with fixed-term contracts, the Staff Committee finds it necessary to voice the following concerns:
1. The proposal to “convert” trust appointments into permanent positions (by means of fixed-term contracts) institutionalizes and aggravates the budget deficit at a time of crisis. It also discriminates against the permanent staff. It is worth noting that as of January 2012 the total cost of trust positions financed by the Regular Fund was approximately US$11 million. The Committee recommended the elimination of surplus trust positions in October 2011, a measure that would have brought a saving of at least US$3.6 million.
2. The Secretariat’s proposal generates no savings, perpetuates the deficit caused by excessive hiring through trust appointments, and runs counter to the standards in force (Article 21(b) of the General Standards and Staff Rule 104.5)
3. The Secretariat recently announced that of the 471 positions approved by the special session of the General Assembly, at least 20 permanent positions would be done away with in 2012. At the same time, it proposes to turn trust appointments into permanent positions.
4. Turning these trust appointments into permanent positions would automatically lead to increased costs for the Organization since the resulting permanent positions would entitle their holders to severance pay, something that trust appointments are not entitled to.
5. Whereas the number of positions of trust has remained relatively unchanged over the past six years, permanent positions (short- and long-term contracts, continuing contracts, and career positions) have been systematically cut.
6. The Secretariat justifies the conversion with the argument that there is an institutional need for these positions. However, in the Organization's current circumstances, the Committee questions that alleged institutional need in view of lack of disclosure of the criteria by which it was determined.
7. Positions of trust do not have to meet the requirements of selection processes to which permanent positions are subject, such as experience, age, and academic qualifications. Furthermore, the level and salaries of positions of trust are set at the discretion of the Secretariat and not on the basis of post audits, as is the case with permanent positions.
8. The return of seven staff members who held trust positions to their previous appointments has an impact on the budget since those positions had largely been eliminated, transferred, or filled by other personnel. This decision is not only harmful to the interests of OAS staff members, but also generates additional costs by reinstating positions that had been eliminated or reassigned.
The Committee finds that the proposal presented by the Secretariat to the CAAP neither generates the looked-for savings needed to restore the Reserve Fund by eliminating the excessive number of positions of trust, nor foments the internal promotion of qualified staff members to positions of greater seniority.
|
The Staff Committee regrets the implementation of these measures, which, apart from disregarding its offer of collaboration, mirror none of the proposals put forward previously.
In keeping with its mission to safeguard the rights of staff members, the Staff Committee urges the Secretariat to reengage in dialogue and demands transparency and equitable treatment for all OAS staff.