Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press
www.innercitypress.com/ban09june3presser061609.html
A UN GC City, June 16 -- Reeling from low grades from the Economist and questions of viability in the Financial Times, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday was hit with a vote of "no confidence" from the UN Staff Union regarding implementation of the Capital Master Plan and the management of human resources.
The resolution criticizes Ban and his team for relocating staff to "swing space buildings before the security risk assessments were done," for the manner of asbestos removal and for stifling meritocracy and "career advancement including the leap from G to P" -- from general to professional staff.
Each of these issues has been festering for months, and most can be attributed back to the UN Department of Management, headed by Angela Kane. Ms. Kane herself has acknowledged a failure to communicate about the postponement of the National Competitive Exam, but similar issues exist around the G to P exam.
The resolution was voted for by over 200 staff members at a meeting on June 16, with no opposition, one abstention. According to one attendee, "the mood was one of distrust, of Angela Kane, Michael Adlerstein and Ban Ki-moon. It was stated again and again that Management is not acting in a responsible, safe or appropriate manner."
CMP chief Michael Adlerstein first said the security risk assessments were done, then referred all questions to the Department of Safety and Security, whose Bruno Henn "no commented" the issue.
Ms. Angela Kane, beyond an icy relationship with the UN Staff Union, has lashed out at the press, specifically and generally, first proposing for the first time in the history of UN Headquarters to charge journalists money to cover it, then trying to subject whistleblowers to exposure. The pretext is an open office plan which the resolution notes was "never negotiated with the staff representatives."
Ms. Kane has complained that the UN's responses are not published, while telling the Press that she has no time to answer questions.
The Economist magazine gave Mr. Ban a failing grade of two out of ten on management. When Inner City Press asked Mr. Ban for his response, his statement was passionate, but largely laid the blame elsewhere. But this new "no confidence" vote does not bode well.
Additionally, as Inner City Press previously reported, Ban may be subject to a rare street protest on the night of June 17, when he and Bill Clinton are slated to receive a "global humanitarian award" at the St. Regis Hotel. Tamils who watched the bloodbath on the beach in Northern Sri Lanka and the UN withholding casualty figures and satellite photos blame Ban.
While the Security Council and members not only from China and Russia, but also for lack of true commitment to protection of civilians by the UK, France and US, share much of the blame, it is Ban who is targeted for protest, as his advisors know. Watch this site.
And see, www.innercitypress.com/ban09june3presser061609.html
