Bulletin of the Former ITU Staff Association

Bulletin of the Former ITU Staff Association

July 2017Bulletin No 35

WHY DO WE NEED A FORMER STAFF MEMBERS’ ASSOCIATION?

An association must live and

move and must make itself heard! For the sake of maintaining an objective spirit of transparency in its relations with you the members, The Committee of the Former Staff Members’ Association feels regretfully bound to sound a note of alarm. As you can see if you read the minutes of the Ordinary General Assembly that was held at ITU headquarters on Tuesday 4 April 2017, the Committee has done its best

to represent you in many organizations and bodies to defend your rights and your interests. For this reason it remains in close touch with the Union’s management and with the Staff Council.

But the rosy days are over. All around us we see nothing but economic and social decline. All the economies of our member countries are in a poor state, and this obviously affects the level of contributions they pay in to ITU and their attitude towards the Union’s future and the conditions enjoyed by its staff, both working and retired. In this sort of situation, it is vital to stay alert and to pay very close attention to

what is happening to our pension fund and our health fund. Your membership and your active support are absolutely essential if retired staff are to have any chance of making their voice heard and defending their rights.

In order to ensure that our Association is able to keep up its representation in all the bodies it is involved with, we urge new blood to come forward, to whom we can pass on our acquired knowledge and experience.

The future of your Association is very much dependent on this possibility of passing on the experience that has been accumulated

Contents

1 Editorial

2 Minutes of General Assembly

8 ITU perspectives

9 Health insurance

10 Complementary insurance

11 Member statistics

11 Interfon

12 Autumn luncheon 2016

12 Spring luncheon 2017

14 Reminder concerning emails and phone calls to the secretariat

14 Urgent call for help

15 Web site

15 OfficehoursandMeting point

16 Meals, outings, walks and travel

16 They have passed away

17 Committee of the Former Staff Members’ Association

EDITORIAL

Page 2 Bulletin of the Association

has rendered over the years, the Assembly by acclamation has awarded her the title of «Honorary Secretary of the Association».

WE CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US AND LET US KNOW THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMITTEE’S WORK!

Claude Briand and Pierre-André Traub

English version by Peter Whiting

over many years to new retirees, who are aware of the need to take up the baton and continue the race. In this respect, the General Assembly paid a well deserved tribute to Ms. Liliane De Michely-Jeanmonod, who has been the Association’s secretary since the very beginning. In recognition and out of gratitude for the many services she

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ITU FORMER STAFF MEMBERS’

ASSOCIATION

held on Tuesday 4 April 2017

Mr. Bigi, President of the Association, opened the meeting and welcomed the 40 or so former staff members present, as well as the Secretary-General, whom he thanked warmly for being present.

1. Opening address by the Secretary- General

The Secretary- General said it was a great pleasure to attend the Assembly and he commended the participants on their fine form. He said that the situation of the ITU was stable and that the organization enjoyed the support of its members. The draft biennial budget was likely to be approved by the Council. Looking ahead to the main end-of-year events awaiting the Union, the World Telecommunication Development Conference would be taking place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October, while Telecom World, an event which had

become an annual SME platform, for entrepreneurs, ministers, regulatory agency managers and private sector leaders, would be taking place in Busan in the Republic of Korea. He was pleased to report that for the first time the Union had been invited by the United Nations Secretary General as one of the key participants at a UN meeting on the new technologies. He welcomed the stronger support from the United Nations, as well as the ITU’s contribution to ICT implementation, noting that in 2017 more ICT agencies would be taking part in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum. Despite that optimistic note, the main challenge awaiting ITU was financial: it was likely that European countries would not increase their contributions, although some members might increase theirs in 2018. ITU had to restructure and he looked forward to relying on every one’s collaboration. He had himself been able to contact the President and Vice-President of the new

July 2017 Page 3

Staff Council and felt confident that he could count of their support when the time came.

With regard to health insurance, the question of the fund shared with ILO for over 60 years was still not settled and the cut in P salaries recently decided in New York could definitely affect ITU’s health system. He wished to emphasize the importance the Union attached to the health of its active and retired staff and he welcomed the spirit of cooperation that had prevailed since the inauguration of the Management Committee of the new insurance system.

After inviting participants not to hesitate if any problems arose to contact Mr. Dahlen, who had recently been appointed Chief of the Human Resources Management Department, and having noted the dynamic spirit of the Former Staff Members’ Association, which was fully part of ITU, he wished the Assembly participants every success with their meeting.

Mr. Bigi, President of the Association, said that the Association now had 430 members, but he regretted the loss of several of its members.

The Assembly observed a minute’s silence in memory of the former staff members who had passed away.

2. Election of Assembly Chair

Mr. Pierre André Traub was elected Chair by acclamation.

3. Election of the Rapporteur

Ms. Claude Briand was elected Rapporteur.

4. Health Fund

Mr. Jamoussi (President of the Health Fund Management Committee), said that an information meeting had been held in December 2016 and that on 8 March CIGNA had organized an information session (documentation available in English and in French). Five information notes had been published in 2016. A summary of the survey sent out in December 2016 to all the insured was due to be issued in the near future.

CIGNA had announced an increase of 8.7% for 2018 arising from the consumption of retirees. According to the contract passed with CIGNA, as service provider, every increase in consumption gave rise to an increase in premiums the following year. For 2017, the amount of the contributions collected had remained below the contract premium total. There


would be no surplus for the guarantee fund. The forthcoming salary cut would also have an impact.

As far as the retirees were concerned, nearly of one third of them contributed less than CHF 200 per month; by comparison, the minimum admitted by LAMAL was CHF 450 per month. Other organizations of the United Nations system had established a floor contribution. In order to ensure the durability of the plan over time, the Committee, together with CIGNA, was making every effort to cut costs. He urged participants to notify CIGNA before starting any treatment, to consult doctors and dentists across the border in France where available, to buy generics and to read information sheets carefully. The current actuarial survey would determine the level of contributions required to ensure the long-term viability of the Fund.

The Chair thanked Mr. Jamoussi for his explanation and the Management Committee in general for their careful handling of the issue.

Mr. Sanchez (Representative of retirees on the Health Fund Management Committee) said that the Committee’s decisions were taken collectively and took into account the views of retirees. He

reminded the Assembly that elections would be held towards the end of the year to renew the Health Fund Management Committee and he appealed for candidates. The second substitute had been unable for health reasons to take part in the Committee’s work, neither in the current year nor the one before.

Mr. Dahlen (Chief of Human Resources Management Department) said that the aforementioned trends cast doubts on the very structure of ITU’s insurance system. The working population was steadily shrinking and for the first time had fallen below the 700 mark, a trend that was irreversible. In addition, a large number of new retirees were expected, while the average length of service at ITU was 15 to 20 years, compared with 5 to 10 years in other organizations.

The ICSC’s decision to curtail the post adjustment would lead to drop of between 6.5 and 7.5 per cent in the net pay of international civil servants in Geneva. That would have an effect on the Plan, which rested on 3 specific pillars, namely worldwide coverage, a free choice of service suppliers and solidarity among the different categories of insured. The current thinking was looking towards a probable review of contributions rates.

July 2017 Page 5

The Chair thanked Mr. Dahlen for his presentation and congratulated him on his appointment, after recalling that he had first met the new incumbent when he was himself secretary of the Editorial Committee.

After Ms. Foudral (AFICS Chair) had commented on the difficulty some retirees had experienced having their insurance recognized by the Swiss authorities, Mr. Dahlen said that no special formalities were required as the matter rested on a principle firmly established in the ITU’s headquarters agreement with the Confederation. Whenever a retiree submitted a request of this kind to ITU in the event of a change of canton, the Union contacted the Swiss Mission at once, which dealt with the problem very swiftly.

He then read out the following communication, which had been sent to all insured staff following the judgment of the Administrative Tribunal:

Communication to all ITU staff and retired officials insured with the CMIP

In Judgement 3736 of 8 February 2017, the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization considered that Service Order No. 14/10 of 30 April 2014 “Separation from the SHIF and Implementation of the new CMIP” was “unlawful because the Staff Council was not consulted”.

In considering 13 of the Judgement, it was noted in particular that:

“13. It follows from what was said under 7, above, that Service Order No. 14/10 is unlawful because the Staff Council was not consulted. The decisions to deduct additional insurance premiums from the complainants’ pensions as from 1 May 2014 must therefore be set aside and the organization must be ordered to reimburse the complainants the amount thereof. The complainants are also entitled to compensation for the moral injury caused by the unlawful nature of these undue deductions. However, given that the unlawfulness of Service Order No. 14/10isdueonlytoaproceduralflawwhich,moreover, may be remedied, including retroactively, an award of 2 000 euros to each complainant will constitutesufficientcompensationforthisinjury.”

Accordingly, in order to regularize the adoption of this Service Order retroactively, the Staff Council was formally consulted and invited to submit any comments it may wish to make on Service Order No. 14/10 of 30 April 2014 “Separation from the SHIF and Implementation of the new CMIP”.

The Staff Council communicated its comments on 28 February 2017 and those comments were duly noted by the Secretary-General.

As the ITU Management Committee of the CMIP is currently revising Service Order No. 14/10, the Secretary-General considered that it was appropriate to transmit to it the Staff Council’s comments for examination and discussion during the revision process.

In the light of the foregoing, ITU staff and retired officials insured with the CMIP are hereby informed that the procedural flaw identified by the Tribunal in Judgement 3736 has been remedied retroactively.

Complementary communication in response to requests for clarification

The only intention of our communication was to inform CMIP insured, for the sake of transparency, that a procedural flaw had been identified by the Tribunal in its Judgement 3736 regarding he adoption of Service Order No. 14/10 and that this flaw had been remedied retroactively.

Therefore, the judgment had no incidence, financial or otherwise, either on the situation of the CMIP insurance plan or on the individual situation of the insured.

No persons, other than those who had lodged the request that had led to judgment 3736, were eligible to receive the sums of money mentioned by the Tribunal in that judgment.”

In rely to a query by Mr. Escudero concerning the dispute with ILO, he reiterated that the Union had initiated an arbitration procedure for an external arbiter to ascertain the amount due to ITU, which would eventually be paid into the Plan’s guarantee fund.


5. Report of the Committee

Mr. Bigi (President of the Association) reminded participants that the retirees’ office was manned on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The Vice-President and he had attended AFICS meetings, including the General Assembly (shortly to be take place). He invited participants to join AFICS, whose subscription cost only CHF 150 for ITU Association members.

• AFICS

Ms. Foudral (President of AFICS) said that AFICS had access to the Pensions Committee and to the Working Group of the United Nations General Assembly on ASHI, which is very important in view of the enormous pressure that was being brought to bear on retired staff. She added that the new UN Secretary-General appeared to be taking the matter of pensions in hand.

Mr. Descalzi proposed that the Committee should give more details about the conditions for joining AFICS.

As that information already appeared in the welcome letter for new members, it was decided to display it on the website of the ITU Former Staff Members’ Association.

Mr. Sanchez (Representative of retirees on the Health Fund Management Committee) said that according to the report of the Working Group on ASHI, any attempt to transfer the retirees’ Health Fund to national plans would be bound to raise considerable difficulties. However, the possibility was still being considered that all retired staff might be covered by a single global system.

• Complementary Fund

Ms. Molina-Scolari (Vice-President) noted that MSPINT/NR received members of the Association on request at ITU every two weeks.

Ms. Wilson (Deputy Chief of the Human Resources Management Department) informed the persons who had subscribed to CIGNA’s Comfort+ insurance that their contributions would begin to be deducted starting in the 2nd semester, in several instalments.

• Leisure activities

In the absence of Mr. Estero, Mr. Berthet introduced the report of the Rando Plaisir section. Two outings had been organized in 2016, in which 17 people had taken part. Two cruises, one of 8 days on the Danube and the other which had lasted 5 days on board a barge on the Canal du Midi, had attracted a lot of participants (36 for the Danube cruise and 18 for the Canal du Midi). A number of walks were planned for 2017, as well as two cruises, the first to take place from 29 June to 6 July 2017 starting in Seville and ending in Lisbon, and the second from 14 to 19 October on the river Loire, which were already fully booked. Two more cruises were scheduled for 2018, one of 7 days by barge on the petite Saône and the canal de Bourgogne, and the other to last 14 days drifting down the great Mekong river, all the way from Hanoi to the temples of Angkor.

Mr. Estero, through Mr. Berthet, thanked the members of the Committee in general for their support, as well as Mr. Justrich and Mr. Berthet in particular, the former for his role as a guide and the latter for managing some of the outings and looking after the Rando Plaisir website. He also extended his greeting to all those who had actually taken part in the outings and cruises.

Mr. Bigi (President of the Association) said that if there were not enough takers, the outings could be opened up to AFICS members.

Mr. Justrich said that the first planned outing had been cancelled because there had not been enough takers, but that 8 more were waiting to take off.

Mr. Bigi (President of the Association) said that Mr. Estero was thinking of retiring from Rando Loisir by the end of 2018 and he appealed for volunteers to take over the duties. He thanked Mr. Estero, Mr. Justrich and Mr. Berthet for their very useful work.

The Chair extended his warmest thanks to all the members of the Committee and said that Ms. Josserand had taken over from Ms. De Michely-Jeanmonod, who had run the Association’s secretariat ever since its foundation. As a gesture of recognition for Ms. De Michely-Jeanmonod’s good services, he proposed that she could be named Honorary Secretary of the Association.

July 2017 Page 7

The proposal was approved by acclamation.

The Chair presented Ms. De Michely-Jeanmonod withabouquetofflowersandarosetoeveryladywho had attended the Association’s Committee meetings.

After The Chair had told the Assembly that she would carry on dealing with the Association’s annual lunches, Ms. De Michely-Jeanmonod announced that the next lunch would be held on 21 June at the Cornettes de Bise (Abondance). The trip would be by coach.

6. Presentation of accounts and budget estimate

Ms. Clerc (Association Treasurer), presenting the 2016 accounts, said that the financial situation of the Association was sound and showed a surplus of CHF 326.60, which was less than the year before. The narrower gap between income and expenditure was due to the drop in the number of persons joining the Association (only 10 in 2016 compared with 23 in 2015). It was important that newly retired staff should join the Association and understand that it afforded the best protection for their rights.

Current expenditure covered the refund of parking fees, General Assembly costs, translation costs (very small thanks to Mr. Whiting’s work) and

organizational expenses for hikes and outings. In this respect she congratulated Mr. Estero on his remarkable work and exemplary accounting. The contribution towards the Association’s lunches covered only transport costs, as participants paid for their own lunches. On the income side, the subsidy of CHF 5300 received from the administration paid for the different activities, which undooubtedly created bonds between members. The budget for 2017 was the same as for 2016. Lastly, she thanked the auditors not only for their efficient work but also for their availability and amiability.

The Chair extended the Assembly’s thanks to the Treasurer for her very professional approach and said he hoped that despite her many commitments, which prevented her from always attending Committee meetings, she would agree to act as Treasurer for another year.

7. Auditors’ report and approval

Mr. Justrich, speaking on behalf of the auditors, said that the 2016 accounts had been checked and found to be correct. The situation regarding the Association’s assets was sound and, as the Treasurer had reported, the accounts showed a surplus of CHF 326.60. After thanking the Treasurer, he proposed that the Assembly should approve the accounts of the Association.


ITU perspectives

After the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly, which achieved successful results for the standardization sector, ITU must look ahead to three major conferences, all to be held away from Geneva, namely:

- The World Telecommunication Development Conference (Buenos Aires, 9-20 October 2017), which will set out the strategic plan for the development sector, will prepare the conference Declaration and take it through to the operational phase.

- The Plenipotentiary Conference (Dubai, 28 October - 16 November 2018), which will choose the Union’s new team of elected officials f and will elect the members of the IFRB. PP-18 will also lay down the strategic and financial plans establishing the priorities and activities of ITU for the period 2020-2023.

- The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19), whose agenda has already been drawn up and which is to take place in Charm el-Cheikh at Egypt’s invitation (28 October- 22 November 2019). This will be preceded by the Radiocommunication Assembly (22-25 November 2019).

Another point at issue to be borne in mind is the decision to put up a new building to replace the existing one in rue Varembé, with the idea of subsequently selling the Tower. The new building would have open work spaces, but would keep an office for our particular activities. It would be built according to the new security requirements for international organizations.

The TELECOM events should continue but with a single world meeting (so far planned to take place away from Geneva). A World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum (WTPF) is scheduled for 2019, along lines to be decided probably at the PP-18. There is no doubt that ITU will continue to play a fundamental role in the worldwide development of telecommunications and information and communication technologies.

Article by Fabio BIGI (translated by Peter Whiting)

The Assembly unanimously approved the work of the Treasurer and the accounts of the Association.

8. Appointment of auditors

By acclamation, Mr. Justrich and Mr. Sanchez were appointed auditors.

9. Other business

Mr. Escudero extended the Assembly’s thanks to the Chair and to the Committee as a whole.

The Chair, after thanking Assembly participants, reiterated his appeal for candidates and expressed

the hope that the newly retired staff members would promptly join the Association.

The Assembly rose at 11.50 p.m.

The Chair, P-A. Traub

The President of the Association, F. Bigi

Minutes by Claude Briand (English version: Peter Whiting)

July 2017 Page 9

Health insurance

Since the Health Insurance Management Committee was first formed, your representatives, Mr. Carlos Sanchez, holder, and Ms. Claude Briand, substitute, have attended the meetings of this Committee once a month. Mr. A. Noll, also substitute, has been unable to attend for health reasons. As we explained at the General Assembly, this tripartite committee (made up of representatives of the administration and the legal and financial unit, working staff and retired staff) reviews the financial data (premiums and refunds) every month and tries to anticipate the trends of the Insurance Plan in order to serve the best interests of the insured. So far the Committee has always worked in a cooperative and friendly spirit, on the understanding that it is in the interest of all the parties to ensure the long-term viability of our Plan.

The survey we conducted among all the insured, to which very many retired staff responded, showed that the great majority of the insured are satisfied with CIGNA's services. The negative points mentioned concerned the franchises and the need to furnish treatment and refund documentation. The working group on franchises set up by the Committee arrived at the conclusion that the franchise scale currently applied is fair. It is out of the question at the moment to reduce the level of the franchises. As for the supporting documents required by CIGNA, it is in the interest of all the insured to exercise a firm cost control. For information, total average monthly refunds amount to CHF 1'400'000! This cost control mechanism is all the more important in that our insured population is small compared to that of an

organization like the United Nations and is mostly made up of retirees. This is why it is imperative to have a system of checks and pre-notification in the event of planned treatment in order to keep cost levels as low as possible.

So far, the balance of the Fund has been preserved, but things are not looking so good for the future. ITU is a small organization, with more retired than working staff. In view of our current level of expenditure, premiums are sure to have to increase in 2018. The current actuarial survey will give us a better idea of the contribution level required to maintain the viability of our insurance. While the three pillars of our system are still solidarity, universality and free of choice, the solidarity pillar must work both ways, so that a dwindling number are not left to shoulder the bulk of the costs. Another point is that there are some within the UN system who believe that retired and even working staff would better be covered by national systems. Of course we disagree, as that would do away with one of our three pillars and would not guarantee fair treatment.

We shall do our best to ensure the viability and durability of our insurance system, and we are in touch with the representatives of other organizations in Geneva to defend a common policy. Please feel free to send us any suggestions you may have!

Claude Briand and Carlos Sanchez (English version by Peter Whiting)


Complementary insurance

As the Committee’s representative, my report for the year contains little real news.

Since the end of 2016, the Staff Union has been organizing meetings at ITU premises on request with a representative of Vigny-Depierre/MSPINT (meetings can be requested through the Staff Union’s president, Mr. Dufour (tel: +41 791938064).

We have had no increase in contributions in 2017. In this respect I would like to draw attention once again to the fact that the rates applied to retired members are double those applied to working staff. I would remind you that the basic MSPINT collective contract covers 25% of the franchise of our CIGNA insurance. Optionally, MSPINT offers to cover either 50% or 100% of the franchise in exchange for an increased premium.

Henner is still the company in charge of collecting our contributions and reimbursing our claims. To obtain a reimbursement, you must either send them the CIGNA reimbursement sheet or send it to them by e-mail at [email protected]. There are also post boxes always available at ITU headquarters to receive reimbursement claims.

You can also opt to receive your premium bills by e-mail on request to Mr. Yuri Basile (tel: +41 228072902).

We remind you that in order to make communications easier you should let us have your e-mail address, either yours or, if you have none, that of someone close to you (such as a relative, friend or neighbour). That will make it easier and quicker for us to send you the latest news, in addition to ordinary mail.

We remind you, too, that you must send CIGNA all your claims, even if they amount to less than the franchise.

Useful addresses

STAFF UNION: [email protected] www.syndicat-uit.org

President: Henri Louis Dufour: [email protected]

Treasurer: Christine Giménez: [email protected]

HENNER: M. Yuri BASILE ( tel. 022.8072902) Mme Aurélie ROY (tel. 022.8070275) e-mail: [email protected]

Vigny-Depierre/MSPINT: M. Laurent Besombes (tel. 022.8103939) [email protected]

Association Committee: www.life.itu.int/retraites e-mail: [email protected] President Fabio Bigi

Your representative hopes you have found the above information useful and you may rest assured that the insured and their problems remain my main concern.

Lydia Scolari-Molina (English version by Peter Whiting)

http://www.syndicat-uit.org

July 2017 Page 11

Members statistics

2016 2017Members 424 438Men 183 188Women 241 250Local 332 346Non local 92 92With email 305 330

Country of residence

2016 2017Switzerland 221 230France 131 140Spain 12 12

Other countries

AUSTRALIA, BELGIUM, CANADA, CYPRUS, COLOMBIA, COSTA RICA, USA, ETHIOPIA FIJI ISLANDS, FINLAND, GREECE, IRELAND, ISRAEL, ITALY, JAPAN, JORDAN, MACEDONIA, MALI, NEW ZEALAND, THE NETHERLANDS, POLAND, RUSSIAN FEDERATION, SENEGAL, TURKEY, URUGUAY,

New members

2010 192011 152012 122013 272014 212015 62016 13

The INTERFON Cooperative

What is the INTERFON Cooperative? What does it offer you?

The INTERFON Cooperative is a group of national and international (active and retired) civil servants situated in the area of Geneva and neighbouring France. The group has about 6500 subscribers spread among all the international organizations.

INTERFON was founded in the 1960s and is managed by an administrative council. Its purpose is to inform, to recommend and to provide its subscribers, at the time they are settling in to their local environment but also during their period of work, with a number of facilities with local businesses (including suppliers, businessmen and service providers). It offers many forms of assistance to its members, putting them in touch with a variety of tradesmen, artisans and companies, all selected beforehand by INTERFON for the reliability and high quality of their services, with the added benefit of discount price offers.

INTERFON developed by creating its medical/surgical complementary (mutual) insurance branch, managed by its own administrative council under the rules of the Code de la Mutualité. It is affiliated to «ADREA MUTUELLE des Pays de l’Ain», which manages it and provides it with legal cover.

Early in 2016, INTERFON strengthened its partnership with the staff associations of international organizations with the joint aim of making their respective services better known among international civil servants and the staff of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

You can find out how to become a member at www.interfon.fr, as well as all the details of current offerings.

Roger Masson (English version by Peter Whiting)


Autumn lunch

22 November 2016, Restaurant Le Pirate

As usual we were all delighted to gather together at Le Pirate for our traditional autumn lunch. Many of the usual gang were present but a few others didn’t make it, and our President, Fabio Bigi, spared a few kind thoughts for each of them.

As always, the lunch was plentiful and delicious. We really hope the Pirate will stay where it is for a few more years at least, as it is due to move on account of some major works the town of Ferney-Voltaire is due to undertake in order to make way for the new tram line.

We parted on an optimistic note, congratulating ourselves on being in great shape, and at our age, that’s what really matters, isn’t it?

P.S. Once again, I’m afraid, no lovely photographs to illustrate the occasion, but I solemnly promise there will be next time!

Liliane de Michely-Jeanmonod (English version by Peter Whiting)

Spring lunch outing

21 June 2017

It was a really hot day when we boarded the bus that was to take us to the restaurant “Les Cornettes » at La Chapelle d’Abondance. Luckily the vehicle was air conditioned and, after a brief stop at Pallanterie, where two colleagues were waiting, we ended up having a very pleasant ride.

When we arrived at our destination, shortly before 12, we all dashed into the restaurant, as despite the altitude the weather was still steaming hot!

One corner of the dining-room had been reserved for our group and we were soon cooling off with the kir that had been laid out for us. The meal was plentiful and very tasty (bringing back the pleasant memories of our first visit to the restaurant a few years back).

We were about to tuck in to the desert when we heard that one of our colleagues had fallen down the stairs and was unable to stand up. Luckily there were two doctors (and even a nurse) having lunch at the same time as us in the dining-room and they rushed to the rescue. After they had examined her carefully

and placed a large pack of ice on her forehead, they decided that it would be all right for her to come back with us in the bus, while strongly advising her to have a good check-up as soon as she arrived in Geneva. Fortunately it turned out better than we feared, despite the impressive bump!

While we were waiting for the departure of the bus, some of us took the opportunity to look around the little museum downstairs, where we found a display of hundreds of coffee grinders dating back over many years. Alongside, the owners‘ ancestors were depicted in their kitchen in the shape of amazingly realistic wax figures.

But all good things had to come to an end and at about four in the afternoon we boarded our bus for the return trip to Geneva, the driver beng keen to avoid the evening rush hour. Finally just before six we pulled up in front of dear old ITU and made our separate ways home after a most enjoyable day.

Liliane de Michely-Jeanmonod (English version by Peter Whiting)

July 2017 Page 13


Urgent call for help

Help needed

Who can help our Committee members in their current secretarial tasks and for occasional new projects?

This concerns not only members living in the Geneva area but also those who have no longer “vue sur le Jet d’eau”. They can contribute intellectually if not physically. We thank all in advance for any collaboration. Please indicate in which of the following you are willing to offer your help:

• Secretarial work (with computer skills) • Secretarial work (without computer skills) • Translation into English • Translation into French • Mailing work (for example filling envelopes) • Drafting/Correcting articles for the Bulletin • Other (for example, readiness to etc)

Who wants to be part of the Committee?

In order to ensure regular renewal of the Committee, we are relying on the willingness of new retirees

residing locally to join us and help in the proper functioning of our Association.

Here is a brief list of what they might be asked to do apart from the participation to the monthly meetings of the Committe:

• Liaison with the medical complementary insurance (MSPINT)

• Liaison with AFICS• Liaison ITU Staff Union• Be on duty at the Secretariat according to a pre-

established schedule• Consultation and follow-up of emails and voice

messages.• Consultation and follow-up of regular mail• Assistance to the secretariate for the production of

the Bulletin

Please send an email to [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Reminder concerning emails and phone calls to the secretariat

Please do not forget that:

the secretariat email address [email protected] is a generic address

accessing it from outside ITU is not easy

consequently urgent messages to this address can remain unread and unanswered for several days.

To avoid such delays, please send a copy of your urgent emails to the following committee members

[email protected] [email protected] first letter is a lower case L [email protected] [email protected]

The same applies for phone calls to 022 730 5584 (the secretariat number). Callers are urged to systematically leave a voice message clearly stating their request.

mailto:[email protected]


July 2017 Page 15

Do you want to know the dates when the Former Staff Member’s Bureau is manned, or get a copy of an article from an older Bulletin, or find out the year’s programme of trips,

outings and visits?

Check out the Website of ITU Former Staff Members

http://life.itu.int/retraites/

There you will find all manner of useful information. We hope you will visit the site on a regular basis and help to improve it by sending us your suggestions

(write to: [email protected]). Thanks in advance.

Associationofficeopeninghours

Between 2 and 4 p.m. usually on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Association’s office, V23 at the Varembé entrance to the ITU Building (tel.: . +41 022 730 5584)

Association meeting point

A number of former ITU colleagues often meet up for a coffee and a chat on Thursday mornings (except on public holidays) from 10 o’clock onwards at the address given below, which is very close to the ITU’s Varembé entrance. You are welcome to join in.

Centre COOP de Montbrillant Restaurant La Marmite Rue de Montbrillant 90 CH-1202 Genève



Meals, outings, walks and travel

The Association regularly organizes trips, outings and luncheons (twice a year), to which members may apply on the forms sent out by the Secretariat or those in charge of travel.

Rando Plaisir can be reached on http://life.itu.int/rando/Accueil.html

Cancellations: members may be reminded that all cancellations requested by participants incur a certain cost, as follows:

Outings: For any cancellation, the cost of the outing must be paid in full, unless the cancellation is notified to the organizers at least 48 hours prior to departure.

Charges for travel cancellations requested by participants:

CHF 100 per person (admin expenses) non-refundable up to 120 days prior to departure.

25% of total cost for cancellations notified between 120 days and 90 days prior to departure.




100% of total cost non-refundable for cancellations notified within 14 days of departure.

They have passed away…

Jacques MEYLAN (26.9.2016)

Henri ALLEBROECK (11.11. 2016)

Arthur SCHAFFNER (6.1.2017)

Pramod RAJE (20.3.2017)

Natalia BOLDYREVA (15.4.2017)

http://life.itu.int/rando/Accueil.html

July 2017 Page 17

Comité de l’Association des anciens fonctionnaires de l’UIT Committee of the Former Staff Members’ Association

CompositionPrésident/President Fabio BigiVice-Présidente/Vice-President Lydia Scolari MolinaSecrétaires/Secretaries Astrid Josserand, Liliane de Michely-JeanmonodTrésorière/Treasurer Paulette ClercMembres/Members G. Araman, E. Augsburger, J-P. Berthet,, J-M. Estero,

P. Johner, A. Josserand, R. Masson, P. Whiting,Répartition des tâches/Distribution of dutiesLiaison avec l’Association des anciens fonctionnaires internationaux de Genève(AAFI)/Contacts with the Association of Former International Civil Servants in Geneva (AFICS)

F. Bigi

Questions de pensions/Pensions F. BigiCaisse-maladie, Comité de gestion CCAM/Health Fund, CMIP management committee

M. Carlos Sanchez, titulaire/titular member; Mme Claude Briand, M. Alfons Noll, suppléants/substitute members assistés de/with the help of R. Masson [email protected]

Caisse complémentaire/Complementary Insurance L. Scolari Molina, A. JosserandPréparation du Bulletin/Preparation of the Bulletin A. Josserand, L. de Michely-Jeanmonod assistées

des autres membres du Comité ainsi que de/with the help of the other members of the Committee as well as G. Araman,, L. Scolari-Molina, P. Whiting, M. McMahon

Activités récréatives et Randonnées /Leisure Activities And outings

A. Josserand, L. de Michely-Jeanmonod, J-P Berthet, J-M Estero, W. Justrich

Informatique et site Web/Computer and Website G. Araman, J-P. BerthetPour nous contacter/To contact usTél./Tel. 0041 22 730 55 84Courriel/E-mail [email protected] Web/Web site http://life.itu.int/retraitesPermanences/Officeopeninghours 1er et 3ème mardi du mois Bureau V23 bâtiment

Varembé. de 14h à 16h/1stand3rdTuesdayOfficeV23, Varembé Building from 2 PM to 4 PM

Numéros utiles/Useful numbersSecrétaire du Syndicat/Staff Union Secretariat 0041 22 730 57 99 www.syndicat-itu.orgService Social/Social Service [email protected] 0041 22 730 53 80Pensions/Pensions 0041 22 730 53 81

[email protected] [email protected]/Health insurance CAPS [email protected] E. VALAUSKAITE 0041 22 730 5385Assurance-maladie/Health insurance CCAM/CMIP Vanbreda CIGNA

0032 3 217 67 22 [email protected] [email protected]

Contact UIT/ITU: Subira Suedi Medina [email protected] 0041 22 730 53 12Contact CIGNA: Inge Tompet (à l’UIT les vendredis/at ITU every Friday)

Rendez-vous/Appointment 0041 79 364 6965

Assurance complémentaire/Complementary Insurance MSPINT /Vigny Depierre SA

0041 22 810 39 39 [email protected] Remboursements/Claims: [email protected]











Documents

Bulletin of the Former ITU Staff Association