29 May 2001

1. FICSA President Bernard P. Grandjean and Research and Liaison Officer Anne Marie Pinou conducted an advocacy campaign in Washington, D.C. from 30 April to 4 May 2001.

   USA to support the UN

2. The FICSA team sought support, in particular, for:

   • improved security measures for the United Nations and associated personnel;

   • a comprehensive response by the United Nations system, as an employer, to the scourge of HIV/AIDS;

   • a realistic approach to human resources management reform;

   • realistic budgeting.

3. The FICSA team met with 14 senior officials at the US Department of State, including officials from the Bureau of Diplomatic Security Services. The meetings were most informative for both sides, and comparisons could be made between the efforts deployed by the United Nations and the United States, respectively, for the security of their staff. There is solid support within the State Department for improving security arrangements for United Nations system staff.

4. The FICSA team also met with senior staffers of both Congressmen and Senators serving on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Committee on International Relations. It gained the impression that the US Legislature was more favourably disposed towards relaxing the constraints on the budgets of the organizations and moving from nominal to real zero-growth (budgets would then increase to reflect cost-of-living increases). The question of a return of the United States of America to UNESCO was also addressed.

5. FICSA was also encouraged by the Congressional representatives from New York to contact their offices whenever needed.

   Promoting Associate Membership

6. The FICSA team met with representatives of the Staff Associations of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), the Organization of American States (OAS) and the World Bank Group to promote unity and solidarity among all international public servants through Associate Membership of FICSA.

7. The PAHO/WHO Staff Association arranged a meeting that brought all key staff representatives together. The FICSA team was also able to attend an IADB Staff Assembly.

   Furthering union solidarity

8. FICSA is affiliated to Public Services International (PSI), a federation of unions of public service workers which unites more than 500 trade unions in over 140 countries. The FICSA team met with Ms. Beatriz Edwards to touch base, exchange views and ensure that PSI will be even more effective than at present in contributing to FICSA's future advocacy drives in Washington.

9. The FICSA team also met the President and Vice-President of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), which represents the interests of State Department employees. It is to be noted that AFSA, like most staff associations and unions in the United Nations system, does not enjoy the right to collective bargaining (unlike us, however, they are able to influence decisions through a political process).

   Caring for our members

10. The FICSA team finally had an opportunity to meet with Ms. Mirta Roses Periago, Assistant Director of PAHO/WHO, and to discuss with her the issue of the security of staff and human resources management reform within the common system.

    Well-deserved acknowledgements

11. We wish to acknowledge the invaluable contribution made by the PAHO/WHO Staff Association to the success of the advocacy drive.