On Friday 14th September, Ludovica Moro of Bretton Woods Law delivered a one-day workshop to the Staff Council of the United Nations Office in Vienna (“UNOV”). The attendees included staff representatives and employees of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (“UNODC”) and of the International Atomic Energy Agency (“IAEA”).
The workshop focussed upon the latest changes within the United Nations’ internal justice system regarding UN salaries and entitlements. Of particular interest was the relevant recent jurisprudence of the Dispute Tribunal (“UNDT”) and Appeals Tribunal (“UNAT”) in the cases of Mirella et al. v SG, 2018-UNAT-842 and Lloret Alcaniz et al. v SG, 2018-UNAT-840.
The workshop considered the change in the approach of the UNAT judges with respect to the first tier judgments of the UNDT alongside other landmark cases regarding staff acquired rights. The discussion also included a comparison of the tests applicable to distinguish fundamental rights of employment from non-essential rights at the International Labour Organisation Administrative Tribunal (“ILOAT”), the World Bank Administrative Tribunal (“WBAT”) and the influence of these tribunal decisions on the UNAT judgments. The interactive discussion also included the new UN compensation package and the Global Service Delivery Model for the UN Secretariat. Ludovica addressed various strategies available to staff associations in conducting meaningful negotiations with management on staff rights and for the coordination of effective class actions.
Finally, the workshop concluded with a practical exercise on how to deal with the most recurring staff complaints from a staff representative’s perspective.
Ludovica and the Bretton Woods Law International Administrative Law (IAL) team have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Staff Associations of the IAEA, UNODC and UNIDO to assist with the delivery of our expert legal services in the Vienna area.
Any International Organisation Staff Association or Staff Union wishing to enquire how the BWL IAL Team can assist them in providing advice, representation or a bespoke workshop is welcome to contact us through enquiries@brettonwoodslaw.com in the first instance.