Handbook on Staff Representation in the International Organizations Food and Agriculture Organization World Health Organization (WHO) of the United Nations World Intellectual Property International Atomic Energy Organization (WIPO) Agency (IAEA) World Meteorological Organization International Agency for Research (WMO) on Cancer (IARC) BIOVERSITY International International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) European Organization for Nuclear Physics (CERN) International Training Center of the ILO (ILO TC) Centre international d’enregistrement des publications International Maritime Organization en série (CIEPS) (IMO) Preparatory Commission for the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) International Telecommunication Union (ITU) European Central Bank (ECB) Organization for Security and Co- European Southern Observatory operation in Europe (OSCE) (ESO) Pan American Health Organization - The Global Fund WHO Regional Office for the Americas (PAHO-WHO), International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) International Coffee Organization (ICO) Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) International Development Law Organization (IDLO) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization International Organization for (UNESCO) Migration (IOM) United Nations Framework International Olive Council (IOC) Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) International Organization International Thermonuclear United Nations Global Service Experimental Reactor (ITER) Centre (UNGSC) Organization for the Prohibition of United Nations Relief and Works Chemical Weapons, (OPCW) Agency (UNRWA) World Customs Organization United Nations World Tourism (WCO) Organization (UNWTO) World Trade Organization (WTO) Universal Postal Union (UPU) United Nations Industrial Development Ogranization INTRODUCTION This handbook, originally posted on the FICSA website in 2006 has been updated to reflect the changing environment of the United Nations, its specialized agencies and many of the international organizations which are members of FICSA, but not necessarily part of the UN common system. The previous version focused on the creation of a staff association or union, this revised version also includes information and advice to staff associations and unions of international organizations that are already established and officially recognized by their executive heads. While the membership of the staff association or union may vary, some as small as 12, the principles of the right of association, effective staff/management relations, rights and obligations of the elected staff representatives are constant. The importance of a well-informed staff representative body in combatting arbitrary and unjust actions and defending the rights of staff and promoting their interests cannot be overemphasized. We hope this Handbook reinforces the belief that staff and their elected staff representatives have the power to affect change and exert control over their work environment and their conditions of employment. FICSA Handbook on Staff Representation | 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. DEFINITIONS I. Staff association or union? What is a staff association? .....................................................5 What is a staff union?..........................................................5 What is the difference between a staff association and a staff union? ....................5 2. GETTING STARTED II. Identify the object or aims of the staff association or union What is the object of the staff association or union?..................................6 III. Identify the actions of the staff association or union What actions will the staff association or union take in defence of staff? ..................6 IV. Constitute the staff association or union An explanation about the names used.............................................7 What are the Statutes? . 7 What should be included in the Statutes? ..........................................7 V. The Recognition Agreement What is a recognition agreement? ................................................9 How does the Staff Committee negotiate a recognition agreement? .....................9 VI. Creating a Staff Committee How will the creators of the staff association or union decide on the size and composition of the Staff Committee? ............................................10 How is the Staff Committee elected? ............................................10 How long is a term of office? ...................................................11 How many terms of office can members of the Staff Committee stay in office? ...........11 VII. Dues How much should be charged for dues?..........................................11 How do members pay their dues?...............................................11 VIII. Membership Should staff on any type of contract be permitted to join the association or union? ........11 Should the association or union have both full and associate members? ................12 How does the association or union attract members? ...............................12 IX. Function and role of the Staff Committee An explanation about the names ................................................13 What is the composition of the Staff Committee? ...................................13 How often should the Staff Committee meet?......................................13 2 | FICSA Handbook on Staff Representation TABLE OF CONTENTS How many members of the Staff Committee constitute a quorum? .....................13 What are the Terms of Reference of the Staff Committee? ............................14 3. DEFENDING STAFF X. Activities of the Staff Committee How many meetings should be held with the general membership during the year?........15 How often should the Staff Committee meet with the Executive Head or other officials? ....15 How does the Staff Committee determine its work programme for the year? .............15 How does the Staff Committee set priorities? ......................................15 How does the Staff Committee participate in joint staff-management bodies? ............16 Is there a difference between elected “staff representatives” and elected “representatives of staff”? .....................................................16 How does the Staff Committee negotiate release time for its officers?...................16 How does the Staff Committee communicate with the membership? ...................17 How does the Staff Committee seek changes to the Staff Regulations and Rules?.........17 How does the Staff Committee provide legal advice to staff seeking to challenge an administrative decision? ....................................................17 How does the Staff Committee work with the Ombudsman? ..........................19 What are the working languages of the Staff Committee? ............................19 How does the Staff Committee convey its views to Management? .....................20 What of those international organizations that do not belong to the UN Common System? ..20 How do the principles and rules governing relations with the media apply to staff associations and unions?......................................................23 Can a Staff Committee use the media to further its aims? ............................23 Can FICSA help associations and unions convey their views to the Management?.........23 Does the Staff Committee play a role in the social and cultural life of the staff? ...........23 If the Organization does not have an Ombudsman or Mediator, does the Staff Committee mediate in disputes? ................................................24 How does a Staff Committee negotiate a new HR policy with Management? .............24 What should the Staff Committee do if Management refuses to adopt a new HR policy? ....................................................................25 How does the Staff Committee organize industrial action (extreme tactics)? ..............25 How does the Staff Committee decide when to give up on an issue? ...................26 What is a SWOT analysis? .....................................................27 How does the Staff Committee provide assistance to individual members? ..............28 Does the Staff Committee provide assistance to individual staff members who are not members of the association or union? ........................................29 How does the Staff Committee defend the rights of staff who work away from the duty station in which the Committee has its offices? ................................29 When an organization has very few staff working in a Country Office or duty station, is it worthwhile to create a staff association or union? ...............................30 FICSA Handbook on Staff Representation | 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS How does the Staff Committee ensure that policies approved at inter-agency level are implemented in the Organization? ............................................30 XI. Function and role of the Staff Assembly What are the role and functions of the Staff Assembly? ..............................31 What is the membership of the Staff Assembly?....................................31 How many sessions of the Staff Assembly are there each year? .......................31 What does the agenda for the Staff Assembly include? ..............................32 How is business conducted at the Staff Assembly? .................................32