From the President of the Staff Association
(202) 458-6230- Fax (202) 458-3466
August 30, 2011
FYI #1/11-12 Original: Español
Did You Know?
Is an informative space that the OAS Staff Association offers to staff, to share information on our rights and duties, thus meeting one of the Staff Association goals: to “contribute to the promotion of the objectives of the Charter of the Organization of American States through the efficient discharge of the functions assigned to the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States and protect the rights of all members of staff of the General Secretariat, especially with respect to their conditions of employment.”
(Art. 2b of the Statute of the Staff Association)
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Did You Know?
That there are legal instruments to which you can resort in order to know your rights and make decisions that are informed and according to the governing rules. They are:
The Constitutional Charter of the Organization, in addition to establishing its nature, purposes and principles, devotes a chapter to the General Secretariat (Chapter XVI).
2. General Standards to Govern the Operations of the General Secretariat
Chapter III contains the General Personnel Standards, which are approved by the General Assembly, the only body that has the power to modify them.
Among the subjects covered in this chapter are the following: Types of personnel (Career service, continuing contract, fixed-term contract, trust, etc.), Status and Obligations of all Staff Members and Limitations on their Activities; Salaries, Classification and Evaluation; Recruitment, Selection, and Appointment; Benefits; Labor Relations; Discipline, Separation from Service, Dispute Resolution, and Indemnities.
3. Staff Rules
In accordance with the powers granted to the Secretary General and with article 113 of the OAS Charter and article 12 of the General Standards, the Secretary General is responsible for regulating the powers and duties of staff members of the General Secretariat in accordance with the budgetary provisions established by the General Assembly. The Secretary General may amend the Staff rules, provided that such amendments are consistent with the effective General Standards.
The current Rules contain 14 chapters that govern, among other things: Obligations and Rights, Classification of Post, Salary and Allowances, Types of Employment, Selection and Promotion, Change of Post or Functions and Work Performance, Leave, Social Security, Travel, Relations with the Staff, Separation from Service, Discipline, Hearing and Reconsideration.
In future editions of Did You Know? other rights and duties of staff will be addressed as well as benefits of Staff Association members.