From the Staff Committee 2016-2017	(202) 370-4645
August 9^th, 2016	SN- 8/16-17 Original: English
MEETING WITH SECRETARY GENERAL ALMAGRO AND STAFF COMMITTEE The staff committee met with Secretary General Almagro on July 28^th to discuss matters of importance to staff.  Present were Jay Anania- Secretary for Management and Finance and Maria Teresa Mellenkamp – Advisor to the Secretary General. Among the issues discussed were the current budgetary situation and the implications for the staff, transfers, the timeline for normalizing operations at the General Secretariat, communication with staff, and the resumption of the competition process. The staff committee expressed its desire to work collaboratively with the Secretary General (SG) and his team, in the interest of the staff and the people of the hemisphere,   in a spirit of fairness and transparency. The Secretary General stated that he would not tolerate injustice and wants to ensure that staff is treated fairly.  He indicated that his goal is to have a strong OAS that responds to the needs of the people of the hemisphere and to restore a sense of normalcy within the secretariat as soon as possible, cognizant of the stress that the budget crisis is having on the staff of the organization. With regard to the matter of the budget, the Secretary General indicated that his intent is to spend less without additional cuts to personnel. To this end, the SG is pursuing a three-pronged approach: · Freezing vacant positions including those of persons who took packages · Rescinding the 1% increase to Trust positions which was approved by member states last year  · Reducing  non-personnel costs ( objects 2-9, specifically CPRs) With regard to transfers, the SG indicated that transfers will be affected to fill priority areas only, particularly where such positions were vacated by persons who took packages.   The SG took on board the committee’s recommendation that transfers adhere to the staff rules i.e lateral and even. The SG proposed that two members of the staff committee be part of the decision-making team regarding transfers, going forward. In the same vein, the SG undertook to review the list of all vacant positions.  He also thought it important to ensure that staff duties commensurate with grade levels. As it relates to the resumption of competitions, Secretary General Almagro indicated that he could not give a definitive date, since much of the decision is in hands of the member states, who will be discussing and finalizing the budget. He will have a much better read on the matter once the budget is approved. The Committee expressed its concern over the impending deadline of December 31 for the completion of pending competitions in keeping with the rules set out in the General Standards.  The SG and his team agreed to request an extension from member states, as necessary, to avoid any negative impact on the staff, as it relates to the December deadline. The importance of effective and timely communication with staff was raised by the committee.  Specifically, the Accountability Portal (which to date only contained legal CPRs) and the Personnel Database were cited as two mechanisms that had not been updated in a timely and accurate manner. The SG asked SAF to have both systems updated with all the relevant information as soon as possible.  The SG also agreed to continue his town hall meetings with staff to not only discuss the internal operations of the Secretariat but to also present to staff the various initiatives and actions he will be pursuing within the hemisphere.  The SG has proposed that the next town hall meeting will be held in September. The committee will work with the SG’s office on the date for the meeting. Finally with regard to continued communication with staff, the SG indicated that he wants to have monthly meetings with the staff committee as a standard practice. Additionally he would also be available to the committee as needed. The staff committee assured the Secretary General of the commitment and dedication of the OAS staff to continue working to improve and strengthen the organization. The Secretary General welcomed the staff commitment to working with him to achieve the same.