Union members at the International Secretariat in London, the body that leads the global work of the organisation, have been given three months to agree to these new terms or face de-recognition.
According to Unite, this means that many of Amnesty’s staff based outside London will have less protection when it comes to their labour rights. The move would affect employees in Beirut, Dakar, Paris, Moscow, Geneva, Hong Kong, Kampala and New York.
The current agreement between management and the union has protected workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining on terms and conditions of work.
Unite, which has represented Amnesty workers since 1973, said it was willing to engage in discussions. However, it said it would not enter discussions while Amnesty’s management was threatening it with de-recognition.
Unite regional officer, Alan Scott said: "The irony of a human rights organisation denying its own employees trade union recognition won’t be lost on governments hostile to the work of Amnesty."
Amnesty International secretary general Salil Shetty told staff that he would get a "second opinion" on representation for staff outside London. He stressed that senior management were "fully behind the right of all staff to collective bargaining and union membership".
