[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 171 (Wednesday, November 1, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2085]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE UNITED NATIONS: 50 YEARS OF MISMANAGEMENT

                                 ______


                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 1, 1995

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that the United 
Nations has been spending money more carelessly than even the spend 
thrift Democratic Congresses of the past 40 years. The United Nation's 
own inspector general has found $16 million in waste and fraud in this 
not-so-venerable organization.
  In addition to the waste and fraud, the United Nations heaps lavish 
salaries and perks on its employees. The average computer analyst at 
the United Nations, for example, makes $111,500 per year, has 30 days 
paid vacation, receives a generous housing subsidy, and an education 
grant of $12,765 per child tax-free. In addition they receive the most 
unbelievable pension I have ever heard of: Employees contribute 7.9 
percent of their salary, while the United Nations kicks in another 15.8 
percent. The pension plan can give entry-level staffers who work for 30 
years nearly $2 million.
  For some perspective, Mr. Speaker, the average computer analyst in 
the New York area makes a whopping $54,664 less than his U.N. 
counterpart, with 12 days less vacation, and of course, no housing 
subsidy nor education grant. And to be candid, Mr. Speaker, the non-
U.N. computer analyst probably works a lot harder. Why? Because the 
analyst in the private sector is determined to make a profit.
  The United Nations will have a much easier time obtaining payments 
from hard-working American taxpayers once their salaries are made 
comparable to those in the real world. I would like to insert into the 
Record a recent article in Money magazine that discusses the cushy life 
of U.N. staffers.

     It's the U.N.'s 50th Birthday, but its Employees Get the Gifts

       For months, the United Nations has been celebrating its 
     50th anniversary--the actual date is Oct. 24--even as many 
     Americans are blasting the organization for being a colossal 
     waste of money. Critics might be even more disgusted if they 
     knew just how much the U.N. spends to pamper its 14,380 
     employees, roughly one-third of whom work in New York City. 
     In addition to their pay, which is free of all taxes, and 
     lavish perks (see the table at right), U.N. workers have a 
     generous pension plan: All staffers contribute 7.9% of their 
     salary, while the U.N. kicks in another 15.8%. That means 
     many entry-level U.N. staffers whose pay rises only as fast 
     as inflation can retire in 30 years with $1.8 million, 
     assuming that the pension fund earns around 8% annually, 
     according to Michael Chasnoff, a Cincinnati financial 
     planner. At a 4% inflation rate, that's $558,533 in today's 
     dollars. (Employees may take a lump sum or annuitize.)
       Here's the icing on the birthday cake: Shielded by 
     diplomatic immunity from niggling local laws, high-ranking 
     U.N. officials enjoy what many New Yorkers consider the best 
     perk of all: free parking.

                                 TAKE A LOOK AT THE CUSHY LIFE OF U.N. STAFFERS                                 
  [The table below compares the annual salary and benefits of a New York City-based U.N. employee with kids to  
                                       those of his non-U.N. counterpart.]                                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Education  
                    Job                        Salary    Vacation         Housing subsidy              grant    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.N. mid-level accountant..................    $84,500    30 days  80% of rent payments              $12,675 per
                                                                    exceeding 26% of salary.      child tax-free
Average mid-level accountant...............     41,964    16 days  None.........................            None
U.N. computer analyst......................    111,500    30 days  80% of rent payments               12,675 per
                                                                    exceeding 26% of salary.      child tax-free
Average computer analyst...................     56,836    18 days  None.........................            None
U.N. Assistant Secretary-General...........    190,250    30 days  80% of rent payments               12,675 per
                                                                    exceeding 26% of salary.      child tax-free
New York City mayor........................    130,000        Not  Housing provided by New York             None
                                                        specified   City.                                       
U.N. Secretary-General.....................    344,200        Not  Housing provided by U.N......      12,675 per
                                                        specified                                 child tax-free
U.S. President.............................    200,000        Not  Housing provided by the                  None
                                                        specified   federal government.                         
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