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In UN Master Plan, Layoffs in Cafe Hurt Health, Workers Say, CMP Spin Omits Safety Questions and Budget Sleight of Hand

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 5, updated below -- In the UN's Capital Master Plan renovation, there are been bedbugs, there have been relocations to windowless rooms. Now there are layoffs, beginning in the UN cafeteria. Inner City Press first reported about this possibility back in May 2009, here. Last week, Inner City Press was told by cafe staff that on October 2 pink slips would arrive.

 The effect was visible on October 5. There were fewer workers, and hot food at the steam table was discontinued at 5 p.m., rather than 7:30. In between the two, the offer was only of French fries and fried meat. "They're trying to make everybody fat," one of the remaining workers told Inner City Press. "Please write about it." Consider it done.

A UN lunch, with UNDP's Clark, layoffs and development not shown

  Meanwhile at the UN's noon briefing on Monday, rather than answer the outstanding questions about the CMP -- for example, why its "associated costs" are not included in the budget the Secretary General has submitted to the General Assembly -- the UN presented an upbeat update, about work on the new and temporary General Assembly building, asbestos removal and the ombudsman's relocation.

  Despite another read out, about bombing deaths at the UN World Food Program in Pakistan, there was nothing said about safety in New York. Inner City Press last week reported on testimony about the lack of blast film on the UN's all glass "swing space" on Madison Avenue. Other staff have written in, saying that such film is missing in other UN outbuildings. Watch this site.

Update of October 6: at Tuesday's noon briefing, days after Inner City Press asked for a response to the Rio Group's criticism in an open meeting of the Fifth (Budget) Committee of what it calls the non-inclusion of the UN Capital Master Plan's associated costs in the budget, and after it wrote about the Staff Union's criticism regarding blast protection at 380 Madison Avenue in a meeting of the High Level Management Committee, spokesperson Michele Montas read this into the record:

One more note about the Capital Master plan to answer some questions asked. About Security at 380 Madison Avenue, even though we usually do not comment on measures taken so as not to compromise the security of our staff, this instance is an exception, because erroneous information has been circulating in the media already.

Before leases were signed, and before buildings were occupied after fit-out, all swing space locations were cleared by the Department of Safety and Security. At 380 Madison Avenue, the windows of the floors occupied by UN staff are covered with blast resistant film.

On associated costs, in its resolution A/RES/63/270, the General Assembly decided “that the approved associated costs for the capital master plan will be financed from within the approved budget of the capital master plan unless otherwise specified by the General Assembly.” The CMP stated last year and has stated again this year that they will continue to seek costs savings and attempt to absorb the associated costs. However, the CMP is not optimistic that they will be able to absorb all the associated costs.

  While the admission about associated costs is appreciated -- still to come: contingencies -- the comment about inaccurate media report merits a same day response. Inner City Press reported on what the Staff Union said in the HLMC meeting. If the UN Department of Management does not respond to criticisms made in such settings, or in a public meeting of the Fifth Committee, it is not inaccurate for the Press to report on what the Staff Union or Rio Group say.

  The head of the Department of Management has previously said, in writing, that she does not have time to answer questions. And so we report what's said and ask about it, and publish belated responses on the day they are received.

  Also at Tuesday's noon briefing, after the unilateral read out above, Inner City Press asked:

Inner City Press: On the Capital Master Plan, I just wanted, the, the, I guess, two questions. One, the statement about the blast film at Madison Avenue was made during a High-Level Committee on Management by the Staff Union, so I just want to be, you’re saying erroneous media, media council [inaudible]. Has the Staff Union been informed, that’s what they say…?

Spokesperson: I don’t know whether the Staff Union was informed, but I do know that they have the films on the windows…

Inner City Press: Okay. What about in the, in the, what they call the luggage building, the building on the corner of 42nd and 2nd?

Spokesperson: I haven’t asked, but as they mentioned, all the buildings were inspected by DSS [Department of Safety and Security].

Inner City Press: Right, but the Staff Union says there was a safety plan, but that the blast film wasn’t put on. I am just saying there’s a dispute between the Union…

Spokesperson: I haven’t, but the Capital Master Plan, they know what they have done, right?

   We'll see. Watch this site.

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Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis