"Mission" tourism in times of budget crisis?

The Hope Team led Coordinating Council with cooperation of their New Wood friends voted last Tuesday, 10 September, during the meeting of the Coordinating Council plenary to send "three" (3) persons for two (2) weeks to New York on a mission in November that would cost a whopping Fr. 18,000?!

And this in time of budgetary crisis when the Council revenues have been dramatically cut due to decreasing contributions from SAFI. In fact, the times are so "bad" that the Hope Team have reduced the maximum amount of annual subsidy to staff clubs from Fr. 3,000 to Fr. 1,500! However, when it comes to their own travel and DSA to expensive destinations―that's a different story.

The "rationale" for sending 3 persons to New York was to attend CCISUA mid-term review and to "lobby" diplomats and delegates on reversing the Paycut in Geneva?!

The Staff Alliance position--and we said this clearly in the meeting! was that sending a maximum of two (2) persons for one (1) week was plenty, and that anything else would be unnecessary and unconscionable! There is no need for three persons to spend two weeks (weekends included) in New York where the DSA is US$430 per day!

We encourage you to get in touch with your staff representatives to let them know who you feel about "mission" tourism!