Judgment 1616
82nd Session, 1997
European Southern Observatory
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 6
Extract:
"The provisions of the combined [Staff] Rules apply to international and local staff alike, and so any provision that applies to one category of staff and not to the other offends against those rules and is unlawful. Here the Director General had no authority to treat as a mere option the consultation of the Joint Board on Appeals from local staff: the combined [Staff] Rules apply to all staff and so does the duty those rules lay down. The rule under which the Director General exercised discretion was an unlawful one and he thereby committed a mistake of law."
Keywords:
advisory body; consultation; discretion; executive head; local status; non-local status; precedence of rules; staff regulations and rules;
Judgment 1488
80th Session, 1996
European Patent Organisation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 9
Extract:
Article 38(3) of the Service Regulations, which provides for consultation of an advisory body, does "apply to cases where the Service Regulations and Pension Scheme Regulations are to be amended or 'implementing rules' are to be made, and the legal status of staff is thereby to be affected. But it goes further: it applies to cases where 'any proposal' is made 'which concerns the whole or part of the staff'. So it casts a wide net that goes beyond mere changes in legal provisions."
Reference(s)
Organization rules reference: ARTICLE 38(3) OF THE EPO SERVICE REGULATIONS
Keywords:
advisory body; consultation; interpretation; staff regulations and rules;
Consideration 10
Extract:
"Article 38(3) [...] seeks to ensure that the proposal shall go through a formal process in which the staff have a right to be consulted through the General Advisory Committee. Indeed it makes for good relations between staff and administration not just to empower but to require that body, set up under the Service Regulations to represent both sides, to give 'a reasoned opinion'. It does not matter that management may have consulted the staff on the subject in other ways. What was lacking in this case was what Article 38(3) required: the formal consultation of the General Advisory Committee and the submission of its reasoned opinion before the decision was made."
Reference(s)
Organization rules reference: ARTICLE 38(3) OF THE EPO SERVICE REGULATIONS
Keywords:
advisory body; consultation; due process; organisation's duties; procedural flaw; staff regulations and rules;
Judgment 1369
77th Session, 1994
European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 30
Extract:
Ever since Eurocontrol signed an agreement with the union "the staff have had access through their representatives to the relevant information and have been able to look at proposals in close cooperation with management and in keeping with the procedure for consultation. The organisation was therefore not required to state again reasons which it had already revealed in the consultations."
Keywords:
collective bargaining; consultation; duty to inform; duty to substantiate decision; limits; procedure before the tribunal; staff union; staff union agreement;
Judgment 1200
73rd Session, 1992
International Labour Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Summary
Extract:
The complainants dispute the amendment of a provision concerning pensionable remuneration in the Staff Regulations of the International Training Centre of the ILO at Turin. They allege that the impugned decision is unlawful because it was in breach of the duty to consult the Staff Relations Committee under Articles 0.3 and 10.2(a) of the Staff Regulations. The Tribunal observes that the principle embodied in these provisions is plain: cooperation between staff and management. The sequence of events shows that the organisation did not follow the prescribed procedure. The Tribunal holds that when the Centre wishes to amend its Staff Regulations "it is making a decision of its own and must abide by the rules of its own making. [...] its failure [to do so] in this instance was unlawful and has the effect of avoiding the new text of [the provision]. [...] Since the individual decisions under challenge rest on an improperly made amendment to the Staff Regulations they are unlawful."
Reference(s)
Organization rules reference: ARTICLES 0.3 AND 10.2 (A) OF THE ITC STAFF REGULATIONS
Keywords:
advisory body; amendment to the rules; consultation; due process; flaw; general principle; judicial review; patere legem; procedural flaw; procedure before the tribunal; staff regulations and rules;
Judgment 1131
71st Session, 1991
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Summary
Extract:
The Tribunal observes that UNESCO's decision to separate the complainant from service after it abolished his post was flawed by the Organization's failure to abide by the rules in Circular No. 1583. The report of the Joint Co-Operation Committee, which was to make a recommendation on the case, gives no evidence of any discussion of the administration's proposals concerning the complainant. What is more, the proposal to freeze his post did not come from the competent authority. A redeployment proposal was rejected without having been discussed or put to the Director-General as required by the circular. As the complainant is not seeking reinstatement, the Tribunal grants him redress for material injury in the amount of one year's full pay.
Keywords:
abolition of post; administrative instruction; advisory body; advisory opinion; competence; consultation; decision-maker; fixed-term; non-renewal of contract; organisation's duties; procedural flaw; reassignment; separation from service;
Judgment 1062
70th Session, 1991
European Patent Organisation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Summary
Extract:
Article 38(3) of the EPO Service Regulations says that the General Advisory Committee, a joint body comprising staff and management representatives, shall be responsible for giving a "reasoned opinion" - except in cases of obvious urgency - on any proposal which concerns the whole or part of the staff. The aim of the provision is to encourage proper consultation between the two sides and that means giving the Committee enough information. At issue is the decision to raise from 1 January 1988 the staff's contributions to the organisation's collective insurance against the risks of death and invalidity. But the Committee did not have the information on which to base "a reasoned opinion" until its meeting of 24 and 25 November. The Tribunal will therefore quash the EPO's decision to increase his contributions for the period from 1 January to 25 November 1988.
Reference(s)
Organization rules reference: ARTICLE 38.3 OF THE EPO SERVICE REGULATIONS
Keywords:
advisory body; advisory opinion; consultation; contributions; increase; insurance; organisation's duties;
Judgment 1020
69th Session, 1990
International Criminal Police Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 2
Extract:
"Consultation does not require negotiation, let alone approval. The staff representatives merely state their opinion, and it is not binding on the administration." The Tribunal is satisfied that in the instant case the required consultations took place.
Keywords:
collective bargaining; consultation; difference; organisation's duties;
Judgment 1019
69th Session, 1990
International Criminal Police Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 2
Extract:
Vide Judgment 1020, consideration 2.
Reference(s)
ILOAT Judgment(s): 1020
Keywords:
collective bargaining; consultation; difference; organisation's duties;
Judgment 939
65th Session, 1988
International Labour Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Summary
Extract:
The complainant was transferred without prior consultation of the Selection Board as required under Article 4.2(f) of the Staff Regulations. The Tribunal holds that the breach of procedure was minor, though it did cause the complainant injury. The Tribunal will therefore refrain from quashing the impugned decision and will order the organisation to pay the complainant damages and a further sum towards costs.
Reference(s)
Organization rules reference: ARTICLE 4.2 OF THE ILO STAFF REGULATIONS
Keywords:
consultation; costs; flaw; injury; material damages; organisation's duties; procedural flaw; selection board; transfer;
Judgment 911
64th Session, 1988
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 17
Extract:
"Although, as UNESCO says and indeed the Tribunal has held, facilities are not a matter for negotiation or agreement and although no obligation attaches to the actual outcome of consultations, one of an executive head's duties is to consult the staff association in keeping with [...] general principles [...] reflected in Chapter VIII [of the Staff Regulations]."
Reference(s)
Organization rules reference: CHAPTER VIII OF THE UNESCO STAFF REGULATIONS
Keywords:
consultation; enforcement; facilities; general principle; organisation's duties; staff regulations and rules; staff union;
Judgment 872
63rd Session, 1987
European Southern Observatory
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations 9-10
Extract:
By virtue of Article LS VI 1.08 of the ESO Staff Regulations and Staff Rules "the Director General may appoint a committee which includes local staff members to advise him on specific cases of disputes and appeals." "The power thus given to the Director General is discretionary. He decided in this case that it was not necessary to appoint a committee to advise him; no reasons have been advanced why his decision should be overruled and it therefore stands unchallenged."
Reference(s)
Organization rules reference: ARTICLE LS VI 1.08 OF THE ESO STAFF REGULATIONS AND STAFF RULES
Keywords:
advisory body; consultation; discretion; internal appeal; internal appeals body; organisation's duties; procedure before the tribunal;
Judgment 809
61st Session, 1987
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 16
Extract:
"The Director-General omitted to consult the Executive Board of Unesco before taking his decision, though Article 54 of the Board's Rules of procedure reads: 'The Director-General shall consult the members of the Executive Board with regard to the appointment or renewal of a contract of officials at D.1 and above whose posts come under the regular budget of the organization.'" The decision to appoint the complainant to an unclassified post is therefore tainted with a fatal flaw.
Reference(s)
Organization rules reference: ARTICLE 54 OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF UNESCO
Keywords:
appointment; assignment; breach; consultation; executive body; executive head; extension of contract; flaw; organisation's duties; professional category; written rule;
Judgment 751
59th Session, 1986
European Patent Organisation
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 2
Extract:
"It is [...] immaterial that the Committee did not comment on the figures in the new salary scales. [...] In this instance what 'concerns the whole or part of the staff' is the rules for calculating the salaries of staff categories, not the actual amounts individual staff members will be paid".
Keywords:
advisory body; advisory opinion; amendment to the rules; consultation; enforcement; organisation's duties; provision; reckoning; salary; scale; staff regulations and rules;
Judgment 496
48th Session, 1982
Pan American Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 34
Extract:
Within the limits determined by the organization's interests, "the Director has the widest discretion in determining the extent of the facilities which the organization offers to the staff association and in making from time to time such changes in them as he thinks to be desirable. Changes do not have to be negotiated and agreed [...]. [The Director] may not, as is the rule in all his decisions, act without taking all the relevant facts into consideration and he can hardly do that without ascertaining the views of the staff association. But after these have been considered, the decision is for him alone."
Keywords:
abuse of power; amendment to the rules; consultation; facilities; misuse of authority; organisation's duties; staff union;
Judgment 431
45th Session, 1980
International Atomic Energy Agency
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 6
Extract:
When an organisation is considering whether or not to renew the contract of a government official of a Member State, it is reasonable that it should once again consult the Member State it consulted at the time of the initial appointment. It is conceivable that the mMmber State will wish to re-recruit its former official. Where sound reasons for opposition to the renewal are expressed or implied, the Director-General will go along with them. "But he may not forgo taking a decision in the organisation's interests for the sole purpose of satisfying a Member State."
Keywords:
consultation; contract; fixed-term; grounds; member state; non-renewal of contract; refusal;
Judgment 391
43rd Session, 1980
International Labour Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 4
Extract:
The complainants argue that the staff union acted at variance with its own rules in proposing reductions in salary and in hours of work to prevent dismissals. They accuse it of having consulted the whole staff instead of just its members and maintain that there were irregularities in the voting. "The Tribunal is not competent to pass judgment on the activities of the staff union and the staff union bodies. The complainants' pleas are material only insofar as the organisation gave weight to the staff union's resolutions".
Keywords:
competence of tribunal; consultation; flaw; staff union;
Judgment 381
42nd Session, 1979
World Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 8
Extract:
A provision in the Staff Rules "expressly provides that the Director-General shall consult with his staff [...]. This makes it difficult to imply a further term requiring him not merely to consult but to negotiate".
Keywords:
collective bargaining; consultation; enforcement; organisation's duties; provision; staff regulations and rules;
Judgment 380
42nd Session, 1979
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 21
Extract:
"If the end-product of the discussions [...] is a unilateral decision, 'consultation' is the appropriate word. If it is a bilateral decision, i.e. an agreement, 'negotiation' is appropriate. Decisions are reached after consultation; agreements after negotiation."
Keywords:
collective bargaining; consequence; consultation; decision; difference;
Consideration 27
Extract:
The question is whether the duty of consultation for which provision is made in the statutory texts had been modified by the practice of the preceding ten years or more and expanded to embrace negotiation. "If negotiation is different from consultation, it is difficult to see how the change could be made otherwise than by an amendment made in accordance with the Staff Regulations."
Keywords:
collective bargaining; consultation; no provision; organisation's duties; practice;
Consideration 18
Extract:
Vide Judgment 381, consideration 8.
Reference(s)
ILOAT Judgment(s): 381
Keywords:
collective bargaining; consultation; enforcement; organisation's duties; provision; staff regulations and rules;
Consideration 21
Extract:
The object of negotiation is compromise. "This object would be frustrated if either party began with the determination not to make any concession in any circumstances, just as the object of consultation would be frustrated if the decision-maker began with a determination not to be influenced by anything that might be said to him. On both these hypotheses there would be a lack of good faith."
Keywords:
collective bargaining; consultation; good faith; purpose;
Consideration 21
Extract:
"Negotiation starts from equality of bargaining power [i.e. legal equality; economic strength may be unequal]; consultation supposes legal power to be in the hands of the decision-maker, diminished only by the duty to consult."
Keywords:
collective bargaining; consultation; difference;
Consideration 21
Extract:
"Where there is only a simple obligation to consult, the decision-maker's duty is to listen or at most to exchange views. The object of the consultation is that he will make the best decision and the assumption is that he will not succeed in doing that unless he has the benefit of the views of the person consulted."
Keywords:
consultation; effect; purpose;
Judgment 325
39th Session, 1977
World Health Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Considerations
Extract:
The complainant refused two posts successively. The evidence shows that "he was consulted before any decision was taken. Such consultation was an essential formality, but in this case adequate. In particular, as appears from the [applicable] texts, the complainant did not have to give his prior consent."
Keywords:
complainant; consultation; organisation's duties; refusal; transfer;
Judgment 127
20th Session, 1968
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Extracts: EN,
FR
Full Judgment Text: EN,
FR
Consideration 7
Extract:
The complainant's appointment was terminated and his post abolished. "[T]he organization has an obligation to the complainant because of the fact which was not taken into account, namely the intervention with the [national] authorities by the senior technical adviser, without good reason, in the exercise of his official duties. As a result, the complainant has suffered both material and moral injury [...] taking account of [...] in particular [...] the fact that the organization was in ignorance through no fault of its own, the organization should pay the complainant compensation".
Keywords:
abolition of post; consultation; contract; disregard of essential fact; fixed-term; injury; liability; material injury; member state; moral injury; organisation; termination of employment;
Consideration 7
Extract:
The technical adviser to the national authorities expressed views concerning the complainant which were, to say the least, lacking in impartiality; he implicitly recognised that he induced the national authorities, without good reason, to take steps which led to the complainant's dismissal before the termination of his contract. The organization did not take account of this essential fact, but it cannot be blamed for not being aware of these circumstances. The complainant is entitled to compensation.
Keywords:
abolition of post; bias; consultation; contract; disregard of essential fact; fixed-term; material damages; member state; termination of employment;
