STU/66th Council/15/022
17 June 2015

UNESCO Staff and the STU warmly welcome the 8-week Special Leave with Full Pay for breastfeeding purposes (see AC/HR/47), as can be attested by STU’s ongoing petition whereby over 400 votes were cast in favour of reinstating one- month leave for breastfeeding. Please note that the petition will remain open as foreseen until 21 June and the official results will be communicated to you shortly afterwards.

The STU expresses its thanks to all colleagues who supported this collective action, which clearly contributed to the immediate change in policy by the Administration.

We only regret that the Administration did not take into account the Staff Unions’ comments and recommendations on the 2014 draft circular AC/HR/42, expressing our firm opposition to the elimination of the one-month leave for breastfeeding.

The STU hopes that this positive trend will be maintained by the Administration concerning other major unresolved issues related to staff working conditions.

Indeed, the STU advocates for a real consultation with staff associations concerning all matters related to working conditions from which concrete actions in favour of the Organization and the personnel it comprises can result.

In particular, we hope that the Administration will propose similar measures to our female colleagues who are not staff members, so they can benefit from these 8 weeks of special leave and their children can benefit from the same protection as those of their permanent staff colleagues.