31 October 2002
IMO Headquarters, London
28 September 2002
Staff representatives from 16 organizations met at IMO Headquarters in London on 28 September 2002 to agree on actions to be taken to support the ILO Staff Union in its efforts to reform the ILOAT. The meeting was the third in a series of meetings held on this subject in 2002. FICSA was represented at the London meeting by Anne Marie Pinou, Research and Liaison Officer.
The representative of the ILO Staff Union stated that it was the only body that could propose reforms to the ILO administration, which in turn could present the proposed reforms to the ILO Governing Body, for submission to the ILO Conference. Only the ILO Conference has the authority to change the Statute and the Rules of the ILO Administrative Tribunal.
The same representative stressed that it was urgent for the meeting to finalize a resolution, which should be supported by the staff associations and unions of both client and non client organizations of the ILOAT. The resolution should show that there is consensus in pressing for reform. It would be presented to the ILO Administration, the ILO Governing Body and client administrations not later than 7 November 2002.
If the opportunity to press for reform were not acted upon at this time, the entire process would be set back by at least a year and staff would be forced to continue to endure a system of justice that was far from satisfactory.
Much of the meeting was devoted to debating the text of the resolution, which includes a reference to fundamental human rights. The remainder of the meeting focused on two issues: the need for those staff associations/unions that had not already done so to consult with their members on the specific proposals for reform made by the ILO Staff Union [there had been no time at the present meeting to consider these], and advocacy activities that would move the reform process forward.
Great importance was attached by the ILO Staff Union to the Federation’s role in this process. The representative of the ILO Staff Union read a letter supporting the reform of the ILOAT, that had been sent by the PSI Executive Board to the ILO Director General at the request of the FICSA General Secretary during the PSI Congress.
The representative of FICSA read a letter of support from the FICSA General Secretary that urged participants to agree on the need to review the Statute and Rules of the ILOAT. The FICSA representative also elaborated on the possible actions by FICSA, including circulating the resolution to its members and, subject to concurrence by its members, promoting the reforms in CEB, HLCM and the Fifth Committee. In this regard, it was reported that the JIU reports on the administration of justice in the United Nations are scheduled to be considered by the Fifth Committee at its current session.
A final version of the resolution was agreed and signed by five client organizations (ESO, ITU, ILO, CERN and WHO). It was decided that there would be a meeting of staff representatives from both client and non client organizations. The meeting would be held at the ILO while the Governing Body was in session in November. FICSA, PSI, members of the ILO Governing Body and administration, judges of the ILOAT and staff representatives would be invited. The purpose of the meeting is to present the evolution of the reform process and consider additional legal opinions. Participants were urged to maintain contact through an electronic discussion forum at groups.yahoo.com/group/iloat reform.
FICSA circulated the resolution to the membership and would like to report that a large majority of members has signed it.