Guterres lost the support of the staff many years back

 UN staff in Geneva yesterday passed a motion of no confidence in Antonio Guterres, UN 80 and its initiator, Guy Ryder👇🏼

The extraordinary general assembly was called by the union and attended by almost 600 staff. It adopted the following motion without opposition: “The staff have no confidence in UN80, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Under Secretary General Guy Ryder.”

This is the first motion of no confidence in a UN Secretary-General since staff in New York passed one in 2007.

According to the union's communication, support for the motion was based on:

- The lack of vision around UN 80 which has been done in a panic and with no evaluation of earlier reforms.
- The decision to present budget proposals for 2026 with 20 percent fewer posts, without any evidence that this will address the current crisis, even as other organisations approve zero-growth budgets.
- The reinforcement of the UN’s existing top-heavy structure. Most cuts are taking place at junior levels, no USGs are being cut and an instruction to cut senior positions appears to have become optional.
- The decision by the Secretary-General to extend USG contracts by 2 years, in some cases beyond his mandate, and promote his own staff, while restricting normal staff to extensions of 1 year with the intention of denying them termination indemnities in case of separation.
- The refusal to consult with staff representatives on post cuts.
- The proposal to multiply headquarters locations, which in time will increase costs.
- The impression that staff are taking the blame for the challenges of the organization, which may in part stem from the organization's lack of visibility in matters of peace and security.
- A new Secretary-General with their own vision may undertake further reforms that contradict UN 80.

The union represents staff from OHCHR, OCHA, UNCTAD, ECE, conference services, security, UNDRR, ODA, JIU, OIOS, the pension fund and UNRISD.