Inner City Press -- Investigative Reporting From the United Nations to Wall Street to the Inner City

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 6 -- Amid complaints about UN Management's failure to sufficiently advocate with the US as Host Country to secure bank accounts for member states, failure to push through its "Partnerships" proposal and refusal to recognize the UN Staff Union, Inner City Press on May 6 put these questions to Under Secretary for Management Yukio Takasu.

  On the issue of bank accounts, on which Inner City Press earlier in the day reported on the US saying it will facilitate banking for the Syria Opposition Coalition, Takasu said there is something of a solution on the horizon: the UN Federal Credit Union changing its charter to be able to accept countries' mission and their staff as members. But how long might that take?

  On the issue of the Staff Union, Takasu said three separate slates claim to be the union, and the arbitration committee should resolve it. That is disputed - and in the interim, the staffer who got the most votes for Vice President in December has been laid off by the UN. Takasu said this was not targeted but it is the type of issue that if the UN wasn't immunity could go before the US National Labor Relations Board.

  On Partnerships, Takasu diplomatically said that it takes time for member states to understand and feel comfortable with such a proposal, which he hopes will be considered in the next session of the General Assembly.

  Inner City Press also asked about the idea of a "DC5," a skyscraper on what is now the Robert Moses Playground south of 42nd Street. Takasu said it has been deferred, but if it doesn't go forward by the end of 2015 the deal is dead, pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding. We'll have more on this. Watch this site.