Labour rights dispute grips British embassy

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/41918e30-ea24-11db-91c7-000b5df10621.html

Labour rights dispute grips British embassy

By Jonathan Birchallin New York

Published: April 14 2007 03:00 | Last updated: April 14 2007 03:00

Britain's embassy in Washington is at the centre of accusations of a breach of international law over the labour rights of more than 600 locally hired embassy and consulate staff.

In a two-year-old case that has caused a stir in Washington's diplomatic circles, the International Labour Organisation has supported the claims of a leading US public sector union over the embassy's refusal to negotiate with it on pay and conditions.

The dispute began in 2005, after embassy staff members voted to join the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), whose members include senior US federal and state employees.

At the time, the embassy on Massachusetts Avenue had introduced a series of controversial changes in pay and conditions for its US staff, leading to growing dissatisfaction with the consultative role of the 50-year-old staff association.

Britain unsuccessfully argued before the ILO's committee on freedom of association that the US staff should be exempt from collective bargaining rights guaranteed by ILO conventions.

Locally hired staff handle a range of tasks in the US, including senior administrative and consular positions.

FULL story at link.