Staff scoffs at Annan's outsourcing proposals

The Staff Union of the world body has handed Kofi Annan an overwhelming vote of "no-confidence" over his plans.

Dismayed at Secretary General Kofi Annan's proposal for outsourcing some of the jobs at the UN, including printing and publishing, the Staff Union of the world body has handed him an overwhelming vote of "no-confidence" over his plans.

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In a resolution, the union expressed solidarity with the staff "targeted" and decided to meet in two weeks' time to take stock of the situation.

The suggestion for outsourcing, which was made by Annan as a part of his report on reforming the United Nations, was considered by the union as constituting a threat in future to the entire staff.

Criticising the reform proposals, the union asked member states not to be "deceived" by them, asserting that they tend to draw attention away from "real" issues such as a continuing lack of accountability and sound financial management of the world body.

The proposals, it said, would create a new divide within the international civil service by arbitrarily characterising certain vital international functions as "non core" which can be outsourced.

The resolution was adopted at an emergency meeting of the staff union attended by over 500 UN employees. Union leaders said it was approved overwhelmingly, with two people voting "no" and fewer than 10 abstentations.