Protecting staff rights: Transcript - Information session on the UN Pension Fund, 26 October 2018

Six "Pinocchios" for the FAFICS President, 20 October 2018

SIX “PINOCCHIOS” FOR MARCO BRESCHI, FAFICS PRESIDENT (FEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS OF FORMER INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVANTS), 20 October 2018

Respect for facts is a prerequisite for any constructive "dialogue." There are numerous examples in Marco Breschi's dismal response to Lowell Flanders that demonstrate the consistent FAFICS approach of "Truth is not truth", i.e., the Pinocchio effect.

To demonstrate, here are six "Pinocchios" identified in his letter and factual responses for each (ref. OIOS governance audit A/73/341. https://undocs.org/A/73/341

Pinnochio 1: “I clearly stated that out of 13 provisional audit recommendations, FAFICS supported in varying degrees 7 while rejecting 6. No antagonism on our part.”

Fact: On the claim of “no antagonism”, FAFICS joined “The great majority of Board members [in expressing] serious concern regarding the process by which OIOS had conducted the audit, which many viewed as being flawed and unprofessional”, including claiming that the audit was "not based on fully verified facts" while, OIOS notes, "provid[ing] no evidence of factual inaccuracies." (Para. 88, table 3).

Pension Fund Information Meeting, 2 October 2018

PENSION FUND INFORMATION MEETING
TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2018
1.15 TO 2.30 PM, CONFERENCE ROOM 12

"From: STAFF UNION BROADCAST New York
Sent: Tuesday, 02 October, 2018 3:10 PM
Subject: Your Pension Fund - What's happening now, what future does it have?
Importance: High

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to invite you to an information meeting on the Pension Fund, this Wednesday, 3rd October 2018 from 1:15
pm to 2:30 pm in Conference Room 12. Retirees and delegates are also welcome.

At the session we will discuss the strongly critical OIOS audit of the Board of the Pension Fund (http://www.undocs.org/A/73/341http://www.undocs.org/A/73/341), which highlighted conflicts of interest, lack of representation, and a poor performance culture, and the implications this has on the future sustainability of the Fund. We will also discuss our concerns with how the Fund is being run outside its own regulations and rules.

This is an opportunity for you to learn what is happening at your Fund and ask questions to three of your representatives on the Pension Board.

Come and hear what happened at the 65th Session of the Board and what we hope will be accomplished over the next few months.

The agenda is below:
Remarks on the Report of the Pension Board 65th session
OIOS Governance Audit Report - highlights
Pension Fund Regulations and Rules - change alert!
Q & A

Panel members:
Ms. Patricia Nemeth (Moderator), 1st Vice President, UN Staff Union-NY
Ms. Michelle Rockcliffe, Participant Representative, United Nations Staff Pension Committee, (also Staff Council Member, Staff Union)
Mr. Ian Richards, Participant Representative, United Nations Staff Pension Committee, (also President of CCISUA and UNOG Staff Coordinating Council)
Mr. Ibrahima Faye, Participant Representative, United Nations Staff Pension Committee, UNSPC Vice Chair, (also Staff Council Member, UN Staff Union-NY)
Ms. Lorraine Rickard-Martin (Guest speaker), UN Retiree (Consultant on International Sanctions and Former Sr. Political Affairs Officer for the Security Council, DPA)
Mr. Aitor Arauz Chapman (Rapporteur), Secretary, UN Staff Union-NY

We kindly request that any technical questions you may have be emailed to: rockcliffe@un.org, ian.richards@un.org and fayei@un.org. However, this is not a requirement.

We look forward to your participation and thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Patricia Nemeth
1st Vice President
United Nations Staff Union"