Comments on: Food And Medicine Burn As Israel Attacks United Nations Compound in Gaza

By: Nollaig

Nollaig — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 08:05:23 +0000

The whole issue of the payrates and Shenstones involvement is bollox. UN payrates for all staff both International and local are set out by the international civil service commision. Heads of mission and their deputies have no say in what the pay scale will be and do not have the rights or priviledges to negotiate with staff on these issues.
The following is available on the UN websites for anyone to see.
The issue I believe was an attempt by political groups to politicise the make up of the staff, Ging has gone on record as being intolerant of any attempt by the fatah and hamas groups to infiltrate members into the UN system and has sacked any one found to be a member of a militant group.
UN conditions of service state that staff cannot engage in any political activity that will jeprodise the mission and you sign a contract to that effect. As for local pay scales, UN locally recruited staff are on levels way above the prevailing rates in the local market. Even those hired on a casual basis are paid above the market rate, sometimes by as much as 150%.
Staff in these categories are paid on a local basis. The level of salaries is established in accordance with Flemming Principle which provides that the conditions of service for locally recruited staff should reflect the best prevailing conditions found locally for similar work. Consequently, the local salaries are established on the basis of salary surveys which facilitate the identification of the best prevailing conditions. The local salary surveys are conducted in accordance with a comprehensive methodology approved by ICSC. At headquarters duty stations, ICSC is responsible for conducting salary surveys and for recommending salary scales for final approval by the organizations concerned, mainly United Nations and WHO. At non-headquarters duty stations, salary surveys are conducted by the United Nations and certain agencies of the United Nations common system.

By: Bock

Bock — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 08:13:11 +0000

Why do you say that?

By: lapsedmethodist

lapsedmethodist — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 04:32:04 +0000

John Ging is well out of UNRWA.
http://www.tuliponline.org/?p=3310

By: norma

norma — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:49:57 +0000

BoldPilot. Sometimes " Cynicism and Suspicion " Have to be parked so as to get a clear view .

By: BoldPilot

BoldPilot — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:07:19 +0000

From the IT article offered by Norma:

"……Foreign minister Martin was probably eager to push this through given the likelihood that there will soon be a change of government in Ireland.”

I have to say that I share the cynicism displayed by the Israeli foreign ministry. The timing of this move is highly suspect.

By: norma

norma — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:27:17 +0000

John Ging is headed to NY as Director of UN office for the Coordination and Response division of Humanitarian affairs.
Great man , Good to know he still at the helm of humankind.

By: norma

norma — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:17:15 +0000

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0126/1224288325280.html

By: Bock

Bock — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:39:53 +0000

John Ging is one of the few who found a decent place to stand in the massacre, to paraphrase Leonard Cohen.

By: BoldPilot

BoldPilot — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:36:53 +0000

Once again Nollaig, you make good points – I know your statements re UNRWA and Gaza to be accurate. I hadn't heard that John Ging was leaving Gaza. Do you know if he's moving on to humanitarian pastures new? Outspoken and controversial he may be, but he gets the job done. He's a man that Ireland can be very proud of, in my opinion.

By: Nollaig

Nollaig — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:27:27 +0000

Oh ok, I know the post was old but I just wanted to put it straight, and really some people spout shite about the UN by misrepresenting the actual titles of the different agencies. I have worked with a number of people from UNRWA and actually discussed this issue with them. But before someone posts they really should research their "facts". The mandates under which UN agencies work are quite rigid.
Just to clarify, UNHCR only works with those who are classed as refugees, those who have crossed an international border, in addition to assisting them in the host country, they facilitate the return of refugees to their home countries, once returned they then fall under the auspices of the IOM, who are also the agency with responsibility for both internally displaced persons and refugees.
A lot of the people living in Gaza come from the west bank originally, so therefore they are classified as IDPs, technically they have not left Palestine.
On a sad note John Ging is leaveing Gaza, an outspoken and often controversial figure he has survived 2 assassination attempts. Despite his critics he has always upheld the rights of those in his care and has spoken out without fear or favour against those who would undermine or try to destroy the mission of UNRWA.