Vote of No Confidence At UN

A union representing workers at the United Nations voted no confidence in Secretary General Kofi Annan. This is largely in response to the proposed reform measures that would begin to clean the fever swamp at Turtle Bay.

Of course, that's not the entire story. The union workers are still smarting over the way Kofi dealt with sexual harassment claims at Turtle Bay and ongoing investigations on sexual abuse in peacekeeping operations and the oil for food scandal:

The staff revolt is just the latest in series of problems the U.N. chief has been force to confront in recent months, including heavy criticism of his management in the scandal surrounding the U.N. oil-for-food program for Iraq.

Annan has also struggled to deal with allegations of sexual abuse by U.N. peacekeepers as well as the fallout from corruption charges linked to how the U.N. awards work contracts.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric, asked to respond said: "We fully understand that these are unsettling times for the staff but we encourage all staff whether in New York or around the world to read the report fully."

"We look forward to the continuing dialogue we will have with the Staff Union and the discussion that managers will be having with their own staff in each department," he said.

Annan presented his proposal for an overhaul to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday and urged its 191 members to invest in management reform so the U.N. can help millions of people around the world facing hunger, disease, violence and terrorism.

The management overhaul won initial support from the United States and the European Union. But Annan and his senior team faced strong objections from U.N. staff, especially about outsourcing and job security, at a raucous and contentious meeting Tuesday afternoon.

The resolution was adopted at an emergency meeting of the Staff Union attended by over 500 U.N. employees. Union leaders said it was approved overwhelmingly, with two people voting "no" and fewer than 10 abstentions.

Ouch.