It is worth noting that all the organisations members of the CCAQ sent out an extraordinary number of contracts and written confirmations before the 31st March deadline announced by the Delegation. Quite clearly, the present situation worries them.

Meanwhile, the decisions of the AIIC World Sectoral Assembly of 12th February enter into force as of 31st March. From then on, we remind you that interpreters wishing to accept offers made to them by the organisations of the UN common system will set their remuneration rates individually. The present situation is in effect tantamount to maintaining a freeze on remuneration and is clearly unacceptable to interpreters.

We therefore recommend to all our colleagues, with regard to any offer made to them after 31st March, to indicate explicitly, verbally and in writing, that they accept the offer on two conditions:

1. Application in full of all the provisions contained in the 1995 AIIC/CCAQ Agreement (including working conditions and paragraph 7 (a) concerning the staff member status of free-lance interpreters);

2. Remuneration amounting to ... (to be fixed individually by each interpreter) pending the conclusion of a new agreement.

The Negotiating Delegation advises you to clearly mention those conditions in case you receive a verbal offer after 31st March 2000; as for written contracts, we recommend that you base yourself on the following clause which you should insert in the contract before signing it:

"I accept this contract subject to the application in full of the 1995 AIIC/CCAQ Agreement, including paragraph 7 (a), and on the understanding that my net salary per day will be... pending the conclusion of a new agreement between AIIC and CCAQ."

We also recommend that, when you receive an offer, you send a letter to the organisation, attached to the contract or faxed in reply to a verbal offer, along the following lines:

DRAFT MODEL LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFERS AFTER 31 MARCH 2000

Mr./Ms....

Chief, Interpretation/Conference/Service [as appropriate]

Dear....

I would be happy to accept your offer dated .../.../... for the period from .../.../... to .../.../... on the understanding that the working conditions will be in conformity with the AIIC/CCAQ Agreement effective January 1, 1995. The daily net salary rate I request for that assignment is ......

In the event a new AIIC/CCAQ agreement is concluded, the present assignment will be governed by the terms and conditions of that agreement.

If this is acceptable to you, I would appreciate your written confirmation [within seven days].

Yours sincerely,

(interpreter)

cc. Chief, Personnel

AIIC Negotiating Delegation

Please remember to inform your secretariats or message centres that they should no longer accept offers on your behalf from the CCAQ organisations without mentioning those conditions; if need be the recruiting department would have to get in touch with you directly.

For any further information on the modalities of application of these measures, please link up with the members of the Negotiating Delegation in your region. Information sessions will be organised in various headquarter cities.

The Negotiating Delegation underscores that these are measures that we hope will be temporary, and are aimed at exercising pressure on the organisations to encourage them to resume negotiations in good faith and without further delay. Our objective has been and is to conclude, as soon as possible, a new agreement to govern our working conditions and remuneration within the common system. In case the situation remains blocked - by us not being able to resume negotiations or if they fail yet again - other measures in furtherance of our demands will be gradually applied in the next few weeks. The Delegation will endeavour to keep you informed of any relevant developments and instructions will be issued as necessary.

Thank you all for your support.