Standing Concertation Committee

The main items discussed at the meetings of the Standing Concertation Committee in the first quarter of 2009 included:

Merit Appraisal and Recognition Scheme (MARS) 2009 exercise

The committee took note of 2009 MARS ceiling guidelines giving the advancement budget by career path and amounting to approx 1.80% of the basic salary bill. To this will be added 250 steps CERN-wide, financed by savings from implementation of the international indemnity for 2007, 2008 and the first half of 2009. The specific Senior Staff Guidelines, including the proposed number of promotions from Career Path E to F, were also noted.

The guidelines with respect to step distribution were also noted: the minima and maxima remain the same as in previous years. Compliance with the guidelines will continue to be monitored closely (more details, including a frequently asked questions section).

It was also noted that Financial Awards (awards for extraordinary service and responsibility allowances) may be granted at any time during the year (previously only at 1 July).

The 2009 exercise will be analysed, together with the 2007 and 2008 exercises, by a monitoring group comprising Management and Staff Association representatives (MOMARS).

Employment contract policy

Following extensive consultations between the Management and the Staff Association, based on the work of an interdepartmental working group, the committee discussed the adjustments proposed to the CERN employment contract policy and a consensus was reached.

It is proposed that limited duration contracts will in general be for a period of five years with no extension possible, instead of the current four years with possible extension to six or nine years under certain conditions. Adjustments to the procedure for the award of indefinite contracts are also proposed. In particular, openings for indefinite contracts will be published CERN-wide and limited duration contract holders will apply at their own initiative for one or more of these openings. CERN-wide panels will be set up to assess candidates.

The necessary amendments to the Staff Rules and Regulations will be submitted to TREF in May 2009 and to the Finance Committee and Council in June 2009.

Creation of two sub-groups of the Standing Concertation Committee

The committee took note of the proposed terms of reference of two sub-groups. The first one replacing the existing "Team 7" will deal with the revision of the Staff Rules and Regulations and the drafting or revision of administrative circulars. The second newly created one will deal with input for the five-yearly review of the financial and social conditions.

TREF meeting March 2009

The committee took note that the Tripartite Employment Conditions Forum (TREF) had considered the first inputs for the 2010 five-yearly review of the financial and social conditions of the members of personnel, in particular preliminary statistics relating to recruitment of staff members from 2005 onwards.

HR Department Survey

It was noted that, as announced, HR Department had launched a survey of staff members by means of an on-line questionnaire. The analysis would be handled in the strictest confidence by a team from the University of Lyons.

Staff Association Survey

The Staff Association gave a short overview of the results of its recent survey of CERN staff, as published in the Association’s bulletin Echo (see No 66, 71, 72).

Leave statement

The committee noted that the current statement of leave on monthly pay slips will be superseded by an EDH record giving an up-to-date situation of individual leave entitlements.

by HR Department