What We Do
About Your Staff Council
The Staff Council serves as the official advocate for personnel across the UN system, conveying personnel perspectives directly to senior leadership to ensure inclusive, transparent, and equitable organizational transitions.
Through active representation in management forums and town halls, we promote accountability, people-centered leadership, and a respectful workplace environment.
The Staff Council also fosters institutional connectivity via community events and the Global Forum, a network of 117 Local Staff Associations across the globe.
PROGRAMME OF WORK
The 48th Staff Council identified the following 5 main priorities to focus on during its two year term (2025-2026):
Representation and Advocacy for All
Provide support and guidance for personnel to address concerns and grievances Advocate for all personnel to have representation Dialogue with senior management and human resources Actively inform policy review Engage in UN system wide staff related discussions and foras
Organisational Change
Support change management processes Advocate for formal role in decision making process Collaborate on developing mitigating measures & support plans for organisational change
Work Culture and Accountability
Advocate for accountability mechanisms to ensure a healthy working environment for all Call for respectful and kind workplace work with people centered leadership Follow up on engagement surveys and actions taken
Communication, Engagement and Visibility
Build community through messages, events, campaigns, meetings, and webinars Stay visible via townhalls, broadcasts, intranet and website Connect personnel to support, resources, tools, and contacts
Nurturing the Global Forum
We network with 117 Local Staff Associations worldwide We provide advice and guidance on elections and governance We share lessons, experiences and good practice
INTERAGENCY WORK
The Staff Council actively participates in inter-agency forums across the United Nations system in order to ensure a coordinated approach on matters governing conditions of service with the United Nations and Specialized Agencies.
The Joint Staff Council is an active member of the United Nations International Civil Servants’ Federation (UNISERV). UNISERV’s main objective is to promote among its member staff associations a coordinated approach on matters of common interest and to reinforce representation of its members in negotiations with bodies of the United Nations common system.
SMC
The Joint Staff Council is an associate member of the Staff Management Committee (SMC). The SMC serves as the primary mechanism for consensus-building and discussions between representatives of United Nations staff unions and the Secretariat’s management.