8 November 2005
In an email circulated to World Bank staff, the Staff Association expressed concern over being left out of recent senior management meetings
Message from Chair of World Bank Staff Association to Bank Staff
Dear Colleagues,
For past 10 years, the Staff Association has forged an effective partnership with senior management resulting in an environment of mutual trust and cooperation. We have had "a seat at the table," participating in senior management meetings such as Corporate Day and the annual Strategic Forum. At these events, the SA ensured that staff views were taken into account, that staff were part of the dialogue about the direction and workings of the Bank Group, and that we were all moving forward together. While the SA does not always agree with management, we have continued to represent staff views and play a constructive role. It has been an effective application of Staff Rule 10 (Consultation) and Principle 10 (Staff Consultation) of the Principles of Staff Employment.
Recognizing this value upon taking over the Bank's helm, and to his credit, Mr. Wolfowitz and his incoming team made an effort to reach out to the Staff Association and to staff at large. The SA advised him and his team on the way in which the partnership has been working and he indicated his support for this approach.
Considering such a positive start, we were dismayed and shocked that the Staff Association was "disinvited" from the very first Corporate Day that the president held on July 29th. Despite assurances that the Staff Association would be included in any future senior management meetings, we learned, after the fact, that another had been held last Monday, October 31st. While the president obviously needs to forge a bond with senior management, we are concerned that the voice of staff has no hearing. Apparently, no "opportunities" have come up to include the Staff Association -- the representative of staff.
In a message to the president's office sent on Friday, November 4th, I said:
"Despite being called a 'senior management meeting,' (the October 31st meeting) was, to all intents and purposes, a meeting to discuss such issues as used to be discussed at Corporate Day. ...(T)he president's office has said on several occasions that the Staff Association is considered a partner to management and that we would be included in meetings such as this. The message that was sent out to staff on Monday's meeting spoke of working with staff, yet their representative, the Staff Association, was excluded from this most basic discussion. Actions speak louder than words, and we now must question the president's commitment to observing Staff Rule 10 on Consultation. While the president can, and should, consult with the Staff Association privately, we feel that it is most effective for the representative of staff to participate more openly with the management team. It is at meetings such as these that staff views can inform senior management, that we can help frame the debate and the resolution using the perspective of those who must carry out the work and deliver results, and that the Staff Association can understand management's thinking to help communicate it to staff."
"This is the second time this has happened. ...(T)he Staff Association was "disinvited" from the July Corporate Day. We asked for no exception, but rather to be treated as a full partner under the same terms and conditions as the others. We have not been, and this seems to be becoming a pattern. We can only conclude that staff opinion and partnership are not valued, and that we are not considered part of 'the team.'."
We sincerely hope that the new team will find a way to continue the constructive working relationship between staff and management. This is an issue that goes to the very heart of the SA's function and we, therefore, will keep staff fully abreast of developments. The Staff Association will continue to represent staff and speak up strongly on the issues that are important to all of us to achieve our common purpose - the success of the World Bank Group's mission.
Alison Cave
Chair, Staff Association