UNITED NATIONS (AP) ? A U.S. envoy has complained that a nearly 3 percent cost-of-living salary hike for approximately 4,800 U.N. staff members serving in New York is unwarranted.
Joseph Torsella, the U.S. ambassador in charge of management issues, said in a letter obtained Monday by The Associated Press that “such a raise is inappropriate at this time of global fiscal austerity.”
Torsella addressed the letter to the chairman of the International Civil Service Commission, an independent expert body established by the U.N. General Assembly, which authorized the increase effective Aug. 1.
He said the United States believes no increase in base salary or cost-of living is warranted and asked the commission to rescind it.
