Overview: UN Labor and Employment Disputes
Since 2009, internal resolution of UN labor disputes has taken place through the UN Internal Justice System, which is managed by the UN Office of Administration of Justice.
In this system, UN employees who have a dispute are encouraged to use ADR methodologies, rather than litigation, to resolve their work-disputes. This is facilitated by the UN Ombudsman and Mediation Services.
UN employees also have additional options for seeing a formal resolution of their work-related disputes.
- If a UN employee wants to contest an administrative decision that impacts his or her work, he or she may do so through requesting a management evaluation.
- If the management evaluation is unsatisfactory, then the employee may apply to designated UN Tribunals (the Dispute Tribunal and the Appeals Tribunal) to hold a hearing and issue a ruling on his or her grievance.
During the tribunal process, the employee is eligible to receive legal counsel from the Office of Staff Legal Assistance.
Research Materials
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UN Appeals Tribunal: Basic DocumentsIncludes UNAT statute, rules of procedure, and practice directions.
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UN Appeals Tribunal: Judgments and OrdersCoverage: 2010 - 2013
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UN Dispute Tribunal: Judgments and OrdersCoverage: 2009 - 2013
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UN Dispute Tribunal: Practice DirectionsTopics covered: three-judge panels, legal representation, mediation, filings, and records.
Information and Commentary
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The Evolution of a New International System of Justice in the United Nations: The First Sessions of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal (T. Shockley (2012))Analyzes the judgments of the first two sessions of the United Nations Appeals Tribunal.
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The Internal Dispute Resolution Regime of the United Nations – Has the Creation of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal and United Nations Appeals Tribunal Remedied the Flaws of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal?2010 working paper by Rishi Gulati, University of New South Wales.
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Law of the International Civil service: A Venture into Legal Theory (R. Dhinakaran (2011))Provides a theoretical and normative exploration of international civil service law as a legal regime.
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The Reform of the United Nations Administration of Justice System: The United Nations Appeals Tribunal after One Year (L. Otis and E. Reiter (2011))Surveys emerging issues in the jurisprudence of the new United Nations Appeals Tribunal.
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Researching the United Nations: Finding the Organization's Internal Resource Trails (GlobaLex Research Guide Series (2012))This excellent research guide introduces concepts and resources for UN internal research.
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UN CareersInformation about UN career options.
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UNJustice: Fair Play for the United Nations Internal Justice SystemUNJustice is a non-UN affiliated entity that advocates for fair practices in the UN's internal justice system.
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The United Nations and Women - A Critique (E. Defeis (2011))Includes a discussion of how the personnel policies of the UN affect women.