Statement by Scott Austin, Chairman of the ITU Staff Council
11 October 2010
“William
Jennings Bryan
once said
“Destiny is not
matter of
chance. It is a
matter of
choice. It is
not a thing to
be waited for;
it is a thing to
be achieved.”
ITU is the
organization it
is today because
delegates like
you made the
right choices at
the right time,
and set the
course that
guided us to
where we are
now. It is on
this topic of
choice that we,
as ITU staff
representatives,
would like to
respectfully
request your
consideration
and solicit your
support.
As the newly
elected Staff
Council, our
choice is to
embrace dialogue
and conflict
resolution as
the best means
of overcoming
divergence,
safeguarding
staff
entitlements and
preventing
abuse. This is
the “corner
stone” on which
we commit to
continue
building our
working
relationship
with ITU
Management
during this next
term; a
relationship
based on mutual
respect,
confidence,
transparency and
reciprocity.
We are highly motivated, and we are looking forward to discussing a number of important issues with ITU Management.
We trust that you will ensure that the following five points are integrated within Resolution 48:
-
a revision of the standard academic qualifications and experience used for recruitment in the Professional Categories. For the P-1 to P-3 categories, we are soliciting for the addition of a rule to deal equitably with ITU staff who have the proven “work experience and expertise” to carry out the functions of a post, but simply lack a university degree.
-
the adoption of a targeted training scheme, subject to the results of a personal performance evaluation, to enable staff members to evolve in their careers and be in a position to take on new responsibilities.
-
a set of rules that governs Detachments within the organization.
-
the adoption of a voluntary separation program.
-
The establishment of an ombudsman function within the Union.
We, the Staff Council, have made a fundamental and committed choice: that of anchoring our actions to dialogue and pragmatic problem-solving when dealing with staff concerns.
We now seek and look forward to your endorsement of that choice.
Such an endorsement will send a strong and positive message back to a receptive workforce: a message that there is indeed renewed hope and support for establishing a constructive dialogue with ITU management, which focuses on viable and equitable staff career development.
I am sure that we all agree that we cannot fulfil the objectives that you as delegates set for the ITU without a workforce which is motivated, loyal, fully-enlisted in the cause, and actively engaged in the overall process.
We, as the Staff Council, firmly believe that ITU staff have proven their fidelity to the Union and their devotion to duty, and that they should not only be verbally commended for the work they have done, but rewarded by safeguarding their entitlements and providing them with an opportunity to advance and excel in the workplace.
We are pleased with the dialogue that has been established with ITU management, and trust that by working together we will be able to formulate proposals that satisfy the interests of both the organization and its staff.
Yet that is only half the battle. In the end it will be your choice as to whether those proposals are accepted or rejected. We trust that when that time comes, you will choose wisely yet once again.
In closing, I wish to thank you, Mr Chairman, for having allotted the Staff Council this opportunity to express itself to the distinguished members of this assembly.
Thank you.”