The voices of Public Services International members were raised from the streets of Europe and South America to international trade union and government meetings in Canada throughout the month of June.
The message rang loud and clear: workers and their trade unions reject public spending cuts that reduce the wages, pensions and social programmes that families and communities rely on. Working people must not be made to pay any further to bail out banks and speculators.
On 23 June, World Public Services Day, PSI general secretary Peter Waldorff made a special address to delegates at the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) World Cogress meeting in Vancouver, Canada. “Budget deficits and debts must not be used as an excuse to cut public services," he said, "This simply opens the way to privatizing desperately-needed public programmes, and will
only further benefit financial profiteners at the expense of working people.”
PSI is a signatory to the Global Unions Statement delivered to G8/G20 leaders who were meeting in Canada at the same time.
“I call on world leaders and citizens to mark World Public Services Day by making a commitment to promote visionary economic solutions – with a priority on investing in quality public services to provide the stable jobs and important services that build sustainable and just societies,” said Waldorff.
Public Services International is working with the Council of Global Unions to promote just such visionary ideas, including through a landmark conference this October in Geneva. The “Action Now for Quality Public Services” conference will bring together private and public sector workers, government leaders and civil society representatives to develop an action plan for recovery based
on strengthening public services. For more information: www.QPSconference.org.
Radio Labour made a special report on Public Services Day, 23 June, including an interview with Peter Waldorff: http://www.radiolabour.net/rl5.html (Day 3)
Public sector unions around Europe are opposing austerity measures that will hit public services, their users, and public sector workers.
In Romania, this includes a 25% cut in public sector wages and a 15% cut in pensions and social benefits. The government is promoting wage "flexibility", which means more insecurity for workers' employment conditions. The government is also threatening further wage cuts of between 30-70% in the public sector over the next year. No other measures for economic
recovery have been presented. Many people are afraid of losing their homes because with the new measures, they will not be able to repay their loans.
Public sector workers went on strike in late May/early June, with over 65,000 local administration workers on total or partial strike all over the country. Custom officers prevented traffic from crossing the border, and in hospitals, only 30% of services were provided. Also on strike were ambulance workers, transport workers, prison workers and teachers. Pensioners supported the strike
and in Bucharest they chained themselves to the gates in front of the government. On 15 June, striking workers made a human chain outside the Romania parliament. See http://www.epsu.org/a/6603.
In Spain, public sector workers went on strike on 8 June to protest against the government's austerity plan, which would mean a 5% loss of wages and a reduction in severance pay from 45 days salary per year of seniority to 20. In Spain, 20% of workers are employed in the public sector.
In France, 2 million workers took to the streets all over the country on 24 June to demonstrate against government moves to raise the state pension age. Trade unions want to change government opinion over the proposed law that will be presented to cabinet ministers on 13 July and then to the parliament in autumn, when they have promised further action.
In Italy, the CGIL National Executive Committee called a general strike for 25 June. The government’s financial measures, are seen as seriously unfair to the wage and salary workers, but in particular, public service employees. They impose no burden on the financial market and high incomes, but mean heavy cuts in public services and in school sectors. More than 400,000 jobs in the public
sector are planned to be cut. The general strike lasted for almost four hours in the private sector and for a full day in the public sector. The strike was preceded by a CGIL national demonstration “All on our shoulders” in Rome on June 12. See www.cgil.it.
Global Unions adopt principles on temporary agency work and call for good, secure jobs for all
Global Unions have today released a set of principles to protect the rights of workers by focusing on the impact of temporary employment agencies on employment. The principles address both the exploitation and abuse of workers
provided by temporary work agencies as well as the damage to regular employment relationships caused by the misuse of these agencies.
In recent decades, the use of temporary agencies to supply workers has exploded all over the world, spreading also to sectors and occupations that had previously depended on directly employed workers. Not only do temporary agency workers typically receive lower pay and fewer benefits, when the financial crisis rapidly became an employment crisis, temporary agency workers were among its first
victims. Many companies simply terminated their contracts with temp agencies so that the workers did not receive the minimum compensation or social benefits that they would have received as direct employees.
PSI affiliates are showing a lot of interest in the upcoming conference on Quality Public Services that will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 12-14 October 2010. You can find documentation for PSI attendees to the conference on the PSI website www.world-psi.org/qpsconference2010, while for more general information the address is www.qpsconference.org. The page on practical information has been updated. Please note that full interpretation for the conference will be provided in English, French, Spanish and Japanese. Portuguese and
Italian-speaking participants will be able to speak in their language but no interpretation back into Portuguese or Italian will be available.
Trade union message to G20 leaders: “Deliver commitment on jobs now!”
Please find below links to the Global Unions Statement, which Public Services International has signed, setting out the key demands from the international trade union movement to the G8/G20 Summit meetings in Canada that were held on 25-27 June 2010. The statement puts forward a
comprehensive plan for growing the global economy out of the recession.
Government plans to implement fiscal austerity measures across G20 economies risk locking the global economy into a global recession and will only serve to weaken, if not cripple, growth and so drive our economies back into recession. G20 Leaders must not allow bond markets to drive economic policy. The unions call on G20 Leaders to deliver the promise given at the Pittsburgh Summit to
“put quality employment at the heart of the recovery” and focus on creating jobs in the short term so as to sustain the recovery and reduce public deficits in the medium term. The statement stresses the need for G20 Leaders to focus on progressive revenue-raising measures and agree to take immediate action on a Financial Transaction Tax as one means of meeting public funding
requirements.
This alternative plan for a job-centred and sustained recovery was delivered by a delegation of G20 trade union leaders to the G8 and G20 host, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in Ottawa in advance of the summits.
The AFSCME e-action network has informed its affiliates that politicians in Washington have passed a jobs bill without critical fiscal relief for states and local governments. Without this money, states will slash hundreds of thousands of jobs and gut education, health care and public safety services even more.
AFSCME is asking Americans to call their senators and tell them to include state aid in the jobs bill. There is still a chance to get this aid in the Senate version of the bill.
“We think we're in a world of hurt now, but this will be nothing short of catastrophic for the already dire budget crisis in most states if this Medicaid funding does not get put back into this jobs bill. This funding (known as FMAP) would provide is $26 billion for in badly needed funding for state and local governments,” says the AFSCME call.
Do you remember Dan Long?
PSI has received a request from a labour historian based in Wellington, New Zealand, who is writing a biography of Dan Long, general secretary of the NZ Public Service Association from 1960-1976. The biography will deal with his significant contributions to the labour movement, such as the links he fostered with public
service unions, including those outside of New Zealand.
If you have any memories, anecdotes, photos, letters, contacts or other information on Dan Long, please contact Mark Derby. markderby@paradise.net.nz.
Public service unions argue for alternative responses to the crisis
Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, EPSU general secretary
At its meeting on 28 May 2010, the European Public Services Federation EPSU Executive Committee heard how pay freezes and pay cuts were spreading across Europe. In 17 countries, including five from Eastern Europe outside the EU, pay freezes, pay cuts, job cuts and recruitment freezes are part of the fiscal consolidation strategies being imposed by national governments, often in line with
demands from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.
Participants agreed that cuts to public sector pay, jobs and services were a narrow, inadequate and unfair response to the economic crisis. Union leaders pledged support and agreed to join in European wide mobilisation to promote quality pubic services, defend jobs and public service workers pay and conditions.
EPSU general secretary, Carola Fischbach-Pyttel said: “Public services are more vital than ever. They are not just an important stabilizing mechanism but provide essential support to the millions of citizens who are suffering the worse consequences of the crisis.”
EPSU and its affiliates will clearly communicate the message that there is an alternative approach at both national and European level in the European Council meetings this year.
On May 15th, the Korean Government Employees Union (KGEU) celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Gwangju Democratisation Movement, when in 1980 citizens rose up against the government and took control of the city of Gwangju. Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and NGOs joined the KGEU in a convention and rally against the Lee government's repression against trade
unions.
Despite a government ban, Yang Seong-Yoon, KGEU president, explained that the rally was fighting for justice and exposing corruption of the present government before the local election on 2 June. Hideaki Tokunaga, vice president of PSI, condemned the Lee administration’s record on workers' rights, the role of the public service and civil servants, and basic human rights.
The PSI Japanese Council delegation also participated in the convention and contributed 500,000 yen to the union defence fund.
Important invitation to PSI affiliates! A Global Agenda for Quality Public Services Conference
The Council of Global Unions, which includes Public Services International and ten other global union federations, plus the International Trade Union Confederation and the Trade Union Advisory Committee at the OECD, is organising the landmark conference “A
Global Agenda for Quality Public Services” from 12-14 October 2010, in Geneva, Switzerland. The deadline is 9 June for pre-registration applications.
Our organisations, representing more than 176 million working people worldwide, share the belief that quality public services provide the essential foundation for decent work, democracy, equity, and quality of life for all citizens.
Add your comments to the draft Charter on public services on the QPS Conference website (EN-FR-ES): http://www.qpsconference.org/
Trade union rights global overview
Trade union rights are being violated in many countries around the world such as Colombia, Turkey, Swaziland and Iran. PSI is actively supporting its affiliates in these countries as trade unions fight to maintain these basic human rights.
Colombia:
Colombia remains the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist. By 14 May 2010, 17 trade unionists had been murdered.
Threats against trade unions and progressive civil society organisations are a daily occurrence. Despite its abysmal human right records and the unified protests of trade unions and civil society, Colombia is moving ever closer to concluding a free trade deal with the European Union, the United States and Canada.
This development was welcomed by the international trade union movement. However, the assault on trade union rights continues unabated, with a worrying trend in judicial persecution of trade unionists.
Metin Findik and Ferit Epözdemir, members of PSI affiliate Tüm Bel Sen (Union of Municipal Employees) are also currently imprisoned under similar circumstances.
A delegation from the global union federation Public Services International went to Swaziland at the end of April to lend support to affiliates who are trying to convince the government to back down on plans to adopt a controversial Public Service Bill.
Farzad Kamangar, member of Teachers’ Union of Kurdistan, affiliated to Education International, was executed along with four others on 9 May. Trade unions around the world have raised their voice in protest.
Global Unions tell ADB: “No ‘Post-crisis’ Recovery Until People Get Decent Work”
“Developing Asia's strong recovery from the effects of the global economic crisis is expected to continue through the next two years,” says the Asian Development Bank (ADB).The Global Union Federations believe otherwise and urge ADB
to collaborate with trade unions on workable solutions.
“Solidarity, mutual respect and dignity”: these are the key principles that describe the programme of work being jointly done by PSI and our affiliate the CTSP in Haiti.
On May 1st hundreds of CTSP members gathered and marched through the streets of Port au Prince demanding justice, respect for human and trade union rights and a voice in the process to build a stronger Haiti. A PSI delegation comprising trade union leaders and activists from Argentina, Bahamas, Canada and Jamaica joined CTSP members in their calls for high quality public services.
“No one can deny the important role of public services. Caribbean countries owe their development and high standards of living to the provision of quality public services that are freely accessible to all.” said Helene Davis-Whyte, general secretary of JALGO. “There is absolutely no reason why our Haitian sisters and brothers cannot enjoy these same things.”
For PSI, May 1st marked the official start of a series of activities to engage in practical solidarity with its affiliate, the CTSP.
Six young Swedish trade union members from the large local government union Kommunal visited Tamil Nadu, India to learn about the importance of solidarity support and the vital role that Swedish union development cooperation
plays in supporting unions in South Asia. They shared information about their union structures and struggles with a particular focus on the lack of trade union rights for public service workers in India. Young members from the Tamil Nadu Government Officers Union (TNGOU) met with the delegation and discussed the challenges facing young workers in the two countries and shared tactics on
how to get young workers to join unions.
In a rural area 650 km from the capital city Chennai, the Swedish trade union members met with the local council and discussed the improvements they were making to public services, taking environmental issues into account, providing jobs for young workers and strengthening industrial relations. At a well attended press conference following the
meeting, the Swedish delegation appreciated the work that the local council was doing but also drew attention to the fact that good industrial relations was not possible without the trade union rights to organise, strike and bargain collectively. This message was promoted widely by all parts of the media, giving a boost to the current trade union rights campaign being piloted in Tamil
Nadu by PSI and the affiliates.
The General Secretary of NOGE, the union confederation that represents local government workers, explained how the Swedish project over the last three years had assisted them in organising 10 local government corporations and 148 municipal council unions, placing them in a strong position to support the campaign for trade union rights. They
expressed their heartfelt appreciation to SEKO, the Swedish union that supports the ongoing project to campaign for trade union rights for public service workers in India.
The mission was organised by Kristina Olsson, Kommunal International Secretary, and Kannan Raman, PSI Trade Union Rights Project Coordinator. PSI thanks all the Swedish affiliates for the valuable support they have been giving the PSI development cooperation projects around the world.
Millions of workers demand nuclear disarmament
On 4 May, international trade union representatives handed over a petition for nuclear disarmament signed by more than 6.7 million workers to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the UN Nuclear Disarmament Summit in New York. The petition, “No to Nuclear Weapons”, calls for a decisive move towards
complete nuclear disarmament and a five-yearly review meeting of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), which has been ratified by 189 countries. The risk of nuclear conflict remains real, however, along with growing concerns about possible acquisition of nuclear weaponry by terrorist groups.
The trade union campaign, led by the ITUC, has involved close cooperation with the international Mayors for Peace network, which groups 3880 cities across the world. Along with clear progress at the NPT Conference, the campaign also calls for support for international treaties banning nuclear weapons testing and regulating the use of fissile materials.
In conjunction with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – European bailout the Greek government recently announced massive cuts in pension benefits. Since December last year a whole raft of austerity measures including huge cuts to
the public sector have been announced by the Greek social democratic government following the outbreak of the debt crisis.
“These huge cuts target low-income Greeks and those most vulnerable such as women”, says Peter Waldorff, PSI General Secretary. “We should aim to generate recovery rather than create difficulties for workers, deplete demand and worsen the economic situation.”
These massive cuts in pension benefits include:
Raising women’s retirement age from 60 to 65, to match the age for men, and raising the required pay-in period to receive a full pension from 35 to 40 years. It institutes a six percent pension cut penalty for every missing year.
Increasing the effective average retirement age from 61.4 currently to 63.5 by 2015, while still allowing the government to assess penalties for early retirement.
Cutting by 10 percent the basic state monthly pension, from €400 to €360.
Reducing pension benefits by basing them on pensioners’ average pay over their working life, as opposed to their final pay at retirement, which is typically much higher.
Indexing pension benefits to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), starting in 2014. With Greece’s economy in a profound slump, this is a recipe for further massive cuts.
Limiting the list of “arduous” professions that allow early retirement and toughening guidelines for disability pensions.
Increasing taxes on pensions of more than €1,400 a month by 5-10 percent,
Cutting holiday bonuses.
Indonesia: PLN Union campaign against electricity privatisation law
The Indonesian PLN Union is campaigning against a new law on electricity privatisation.
The government has promulgated law no. 30/2009, which has already been through a judicial review on 25th March. At that hearing, David Hall, director of PSIRU, and Luis Corral of the Alliance of Philippines Electric Cooperatives (APEC) appeared as expert witnesses for the union. David Hall’s presentation demonstrated that the global experience of privatisation actually resulted in higher
electricity prices. Luis Corral said that in the Philippines, “10 years after restructuring the electricity power industry, there has been no reduction in electricity prices and consumers and workers continue to be the victims of a law that doesn’t work”.
It’s not the first time that the union has been to court about electricity privatisation. In December 2004 the Constitutional Court cancelled Law 20/2002 on electricity. However, in September 2009 the government launched the new law to fully privatise power generation, distribution and supply. The case will go before the Constitutional Court on 29 April 2010.
Daryoko, PLN Union General Chairman, says that electricity privatisation in Indonesia will erode democracy, raise prices, increase insecurity and reduce access. The PLN Union is campaigning against the law to protect this essential service and to keep it in public hands.
PCS wins redundancy pay court challenge
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), a PSI affiliate in the UK, has won its court case to block measures threatening the level of redundancy pay for civil servants.
The court ruled that changes made to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme without union agreement were unlawful. The compensation scheme was introduced in 1972 to give protection to civil servants, and one of its provisions says entitlements "are not to be taken away" without union consent. However, the government introduced an amendment on 1 April 2010 in order to make financial
savings.
PCS general secretary, Mark Serwotka, said "We have always accepted that changes are necessary but all we ever asked is that they were fair and protected those who have given loyal service".
The union is calling on the new UK government to enter into talks to reach a fair agreement for all civil servants.
The fourth annual Geneva Labour Film Shorts Festival – by, for and about unions and working people – tells workers’ stories of confronting the challenges caused by the extreme imbalance in power between the
transnational corporate elite and working people. The event happens 15 June.
Public Services International (PSI) is in the process of revising our website to ensure we are serving our affiliates in the freshest and most effective ways. Please take a few minutes now to fill out our short
website survey which exists in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese and tell us what you would like to see as improved features in the new PSI website. Please circulate this survey message to your union staff and members as well.
Thanks to all those who have already sent in their comments.
The Story of Bottled Water
The Story of Bottled Water, is short online video presented by the Story of Stuff Project that tells the story of manufactured demand, or how to persuade consumers to buy bottled water. The film explores the bottled water industry’s attacks on tap water and its use of seductive, environmental-themed advertising to cover up the mountains of plastic waste it produces. It concludes
with a call to ‘take back the tap,’ not only by making a personal commitment to avoid bottled water, but by supporting investments in clean, available tap water for all. Watch the video below or see http://storyofstuff.org/bottledwater/
Mongolian health workers march for better wages and working conditions
PSI affiliate the Medical Employees Trade Union Federation of Mongolia (METUF) has been in negotiations with the government since 1st April 2010. The union is demanding a salary increase for its members, and that health sector working conditions and social welfare issues be integrated into health sector reform
and new legislation. Health sector workers in Mongolia earn an average of US$ 170 per month.
More than 5000 doctors, nurses and other health care workers demonstrated in front of the Health Ministry and in Ulaanbaatar’s main square. After receiving the demonstrators’ written demands, the Government representatives met the METUF delegation.
Following similar demands from the national centre, Confederation of Mongolian Trade Unions (CMTU) and other union federations, the government organised a tripartite negotiation, and on 27 April the government and the employers’ association offered a 30 percent wage increase from 1st October 2010. METUF will continue its struggle to obtain better conditions for its members.
Global recognition for quality public service workers this May Day
The Mongolian Medical Employees Trade Union Federation (METUF), a PSI affiliate, marches this year for better wages and working conditions, and protection of the right to freedom of association, supported by the Confederation of Mongolian Trade Unions.
Public Services International, as a member of the Council of Global Unions, is proud to share with affiliates the common May Day statement issued by the Council this year. This message is an important affirmation of the need to defend the role of quality public services in the rebuilding of economies and communities that have been rent by the global economic crisis, or been shattered by natural
disasters.
“Public services provide the sustainable jobs and programs that create a sustainable world,” says PSI general secretary Peter Waldorff. “And we know that where there are strong public services, democracy thrives.
“As we join together as working people this May Day to support our fellow workers and their families in Haiti and Chile, in Turkey, in Greece, and elsewhere, we rally around the understanding that economic recovery must be realized for all workers, no matter the circumstance. And, of course, trade union rights must be respected with every step along this road.”
Public Services International is organising a Solidarity Visit to Haiti from 30 April to 6 May. International Workers’ Day on 1 May will be an opportunity to bring members together in trade union solidarity. Activities include the
members’ reunion, visits to affected areas, distribution of aid packages and the set up of a more secure and safe union office. An 18-month work plan will be developed together with PSI’s Haitian affiliate the Confédération des Travailleurs et Travailleuses des Secteurs Public et Privé (CTSP) / Confederation of Public and Private Sector Workers. The goals include
strengthening CTSP, promoting quality public services and decent work, and monitoring the implementation of the Haiti Action Plan.
PSI General Secretary meets with Chilean Labour Minister
PSI general secretary Peter Waldorff and the Chilean minister of labour and social welfare, Camila Merino, met in Santiago on 15 April. Waldorff called on the new right wing government to guarantee freedom of
association and collective bargaining with the right to strike within thepublic administration. He also insisted on the need to include trade unions in the Chilean reconstruction programme.
One day earlier,at the closure of the Agrupación Nacional Empleados Fiscales (ANEF) meeting, Peter Waldorff, Public Services International general secretary, met withSebastián Piñera,
President of Chile.
SANTIAGO – Public Services International general secretary, Peter Waldorff, and the Chilean minister of labour and social welfare Camila Merino met for an hour-long discussion on Thursday 15 April 2010. This meeting was held in connection with the PSI Inter-American Regional Executive Committee Meeting (IAMREC) in
Santiago.
At the meeting, PSI general secretary, accompanied by affiliate leaders from Chile and the rest of the continent, expressed his concern about whether the new right wing government would guarantee freedom of association and collective bargaining with the right to strike to thepublic administration. He also insisted on
the need to include trade unions in the Chilean reconstruction programme following the earthquake that took place in the country.
"When a government is in a difficult situation, it is important to include all stakeholders, including public sector unions, in the reconstruction efforts. It is also essential to invest in capacity building and staff training", said Waldorff.
The minister welcomed Waldorff’s visit and said that the government's policy was to work together with employers and employees, and that the reconstruction would take place with the participation of all.
"We know of the strength of public sector workers, which was proven in their actions in the aftermath of the earthquake," said Merino.
Plan for IAMRECON: "Trade union rights at the heart of Quality Public Services"
The PSI Inter-American Regional Executive Committee Meeting (IAMREC) took place in Santiago, Chile on 15-16 April. According to Jocelio Drummond, PSI Regional Secretary for the Inter-American region, the venue was chosen
“to show solidarity towards Chile and to accompany our members through this difficult time".
The important points discussed at the meeting included the international aid going to Chile and Haiti, defending trade union rights in countries like Colombia and organising the next PSI Inter-American Regional Conference (IAMRECON) which will take place on 11-12 September in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. The conference theme will be “Trade
union rights at the heart of quality public services."
This year's IAMRECON conference will be preceded by sectoral meetings and workshops on cross-cutting issues starting on 6 September, which will bring together hundreds of union activists.
PSI pledges support and solidarity with South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU)
Victory for South African Municipal Workers’ Union members! Following seven years of fruitless negotiations and a legal national protected strike that began on 12 April 2010, an agreement on wage curves has finally been reached. Thanks to workers’ perseverance, the long wait to introduce proper salaries for municipal workers is now over.
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) and its 130,000 members are currently engaged in a legal national protected strike that began on 12 April 2010. SAMWU members have been
forced to take this action after seven years of negotiations failed to deliver proper salaries and equitable working conditions for municipal workers. PSI applauds SAMWU's determination and commitment to seeing justice achieved in this long struggle. SAMWU members are acting to defend and strengthen public services.
PSI believes that workers who deliver public services clearly deserve decent jobs and decent pay. PSI finds the intransigence of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) deplorable and denounces the fact that, whilst SALGA underpays municipal workers, labour relations department officials continue to draw large salaries. Many of our affiliates around the world face
similar situations.
PSI strongly urges SALGA to return to the negotiating table in good faith to meet the very legitimate demands of SAMWU. (View PSI's
letter of support)
PSI delegation supports demand of Swaziland affiliates for trade union and democratic rights
A delegation from the global union federation Public Services International went to Swaziland at the end of April to lend support to affiliates who are trying to convince the government to back down on plans to adopt a controversial Public
Service Bill. In its current form, the bill effectively prohibits public officers from openly belonging to or being associated with any political organisation, which could also include a trade union. Civil servants could be fired without due process, and other repressive measures are proposed.
As the third round of Canada-European Union free trade negotiations began the week of April 19, leaked draft details of the proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) were jointly released by Public Services International
and its European arm, the European Federation of Public Service Unions, together with union affiliates and civil service organisations in the Canadian Trade Justice Network.
Campaigns to defend quality public services – send your links to PSI
In tough economic times, social programs provide essential supports for both economies and societies. However, the financial crisis is providing the excuse to cut public funding, at a time when citizens need public education, unemployment, and health benefits the
most. Public Services International and our affiliates are standing up to the attacks on public services, around the world. Please see the following links for examples of these inspiring campaigns. Put the spotlight
on your union campaign - send your suggestions for more links and resources to communications@world-psi.org
The voices of Public Services International members were raised from the streets of Europe and South America to international trade union and government meetings in Canada throughout the month of June.
Public sector unions around Europe are opposing austerity measures that will hit public services, their users, and public sector workers.
Global Unions have today released a set of principles to protect the rights of workers by focusing on the impact of temporary employment agencies on employment. The principles address both the exploitation and abuse of workers
provided by temporary work agencies as well as the damage to regular employment relationships caused by the misuse of these agencies. 
PSI affiliates are showing a lot of interest in the upcoming conference on Quality Public Services that will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 12-14 October 2010. You can find documentation for PSI attendees to the conference on the PSI website 
Please find below links to the Global Unions Statement, which Public Services International has signed, setting out the key demands from the international trade union movement to the G8/G20 Summit meetings in Canada that were held on 25-27 June 2010. The statement puts forward a
comprehensive plan for growing the global economy out of the recession.
PSI has received a request from a labour historian based in Wellington, New Zealand, who is writing a biography of Dan Long, general secretary of the NZ Public Service Association from 1960-1976. The biography will deal with his significant contributions to the labour movement, such as the links he fostered with public
service unions, including those outside of New Zealand.
The Council of Global Unions, which includes Public Services International and ten other global union federations, plus the International Trade Union Confederation and the Trade Union Advisory Committee at the OECD, is organising the landmark conference “A
Global Agenda for Quality Public Services” from 12-14 October 2010, in Geneva, Switzerland. The deadline is 9 June for pre-registration applications.
Trade union rights are being violated in many countries around the world such as Colombia, Turkey, Swaziland and Iran. PSI is actively supporting its affiliates in these countries as trade unions fight to maintain these basic human rights.
“Developing Asia's strong recovery from the effects of the global economic crisis is expected to continue through the next two years,” says the Asian Development Bank (ADB).The Global Union Federations believe otherwise and urge ADB
to collaborate with trade unions on workable solutions.
Six young Swedish trade union members from the large local government union Kommunal visited Tamil Nadu, India to learn about the importance of solidarity support and the vital role that Swedish union development cooperation
plays in supporting unions in South Asia. They shared information about their union structures and struggles with a particular focus on the lack of trade union rights for public service workers in India. Young members from the Tamil Nadu Government Officers Union (TNGOU) met with the delegation and discussed the challenges facing young workers in the two countries and shared tactics on
how to get young workers to join unions.
On 4 May, international trade union representatives handed over a petition for nuclear disarmament signed by more than 6.7 million workers to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the UN Nuclear Disarmament Summit in New York. The petition, “No to Nuclear Weapons”, calls for a decisive move towards
complete nuclear disarmament and a five-yearly review meeting of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), which has been ratified by 189 countries. The risk of nuclear conflict remains real, however, along with growing concerns about possible acquisition of nuclear weaponry by terrorist groups.
In conjunction with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – European bailout the Greek government recently announced massive cuts in pension benefits. Since December last year a whole raft of austerity measures including huge cuts to
the public sector have been announced by the Greek social democratic government following the outbreak of the debt crisis.
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), a PSI affiliate in the UK, has won its court case to block measures threatening the level of redundancy pay for civil servants.
The fourth annual Geneva Labour Film Shorts Festival – by, for and about unions and working people – tells workers’ stories of confronting the challenges caused by the extreme imbalance in power between the
transnational corporate elite and working people. The event happens 15 June.
Public Services International (PSI) is in the process of revising our website to ensure we are serving our affiliates in the freshest and most effective ways. Please take a few minutes now to fill out our short
website survey which exists in 
PSI affiliate the Medical Employees Trade Union Federation of Mongolia (METUF) has been in negotiations with the government since 1st April 2010. The union is demanding a salary increase for its members, and that health sector working conditions and social welfare issues be integrated into health sector reform
and new legislation. Health sector workers in Mongolia earn an average of US$ 170 per month.
Public Services International is organising a Solidarity Visit to Haiti from 30 April to 6 May. International Workers’ Day on 1 May will be an opportunity to bring members together in trade union solidarity. Activities include the
members’ reunion, visits to affected areas, distribution of aid packages and the set up of a more secure and safe union office. An 18-month work plan will be developed together with PSI’s Haitian affiliate the Confédération des Travailleurs et Travailleuses des Secteurs Public et Privé (CTSP) / Confederation of Public and Private Sector Workers. The goals include
strengthening CTSP, promoting quality public services and decent work, and monitoring the implementation of the Haiti Action Plan.
PSI general secretary Peter Waldorff and the Chilean minister of labour and social welfare, Camila Merino, met in Santiago on 15 April. Waldorff called on the new right wing government to guarantee freedom of
association and collective bargaining with the right to strike within the
The PSI Inter-American Regional Executive Committee Meeting (IAMREC) took place in Santiago, Chile on 15-16 April. According to Jocelio Drummond, PSI Regional Secretary for the Inter-American region, the venue was chosen
“to show solidarity towards Chile and to accompany our members through this difficult time".
A delegation from the global union federation Public Services International went to Swaziland at the end of April to lend support to affiliates who are trying to convince the government to back down on plans to adopt a controversial Public
Service Bill. In its current form, the bill effectively prohibits public officers from openly belonging to or being associated with any political organisation, which could also include a trade union. Civil servants could be fired without due process, and other repressive measures are proposed.
As the third round of Canada-European Union free trade negotiations began the week of April 19, leaked draft details of the proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) were jointly released by Public Services International
and its European arm, the European Federation of Public Service Unions, together with union affiliates and civil service organisations in the Canadian Trade Justice Network.
In tough economic times, social programs provide essential supports for both economies and societies. However, the financial crisis is providing the excuse to cut public funding, at a time when citizens need public education, unemployment, and health benefits the
most. Public Services International and our affiliates are standing up to the attacks on public services, around the world. Please 
