The PSI World News is a monthly round up of events and news relating to the work of public service trade union staff and activists. To subscribe email communications@world-psi.org with the word/s: "english"; "français"; "espagnol"; "japanese" or "russian" in the subject line. Recent editions (PDF files) can be downloaded from here. Below is a selection of stories from recent editions.

EPSU-PSI Europe Merger agreed unanimously

A stronger European Public Services Federation created

At the EPSU Congress on 8 June, delegates voted and unanimously agreed on the Merger between EPSU and PSI Europe. With this merger, EPSU membership will rise to 255 public service unions (from 224). Delegates have also voted on changes to the EPSU Constitution underpinning the merger process.
PSI General Secretary, Peter Waldorff is pleased to see that the efforts to create one single European structure have been concluded and finds it encouraging that the final decisions to change the EPSU constitution were taken unanimously.
Carola  Fischbach-Pyttel, EPSU General Secretary, stated that: “EPSU was looking forward to assuming its new role as the regional organisation of PSI in Europe”. Geographically, EPSU will now cover the European continent, central Asia, and Israel.

For further details, click here.

To read Peter Waldorff's speech at the EPSU Congress, click here.

Canada: Toronto public sector workers on strike

Public sector workers in Toronto, Canada, have been on strike since 22 June. They have been in talks for more than five months with the city, which sought changes to job security, seniority and benefits such as sick pay. Negotiations with the City have been stalled due to an unrealistic list of concessions being demanded by the City that would affect benefits, wages and seniority rights.
The City’s offer is “an absolute insult,” Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 79 President Ann Dembinski said in an interview outside City Hall. “Give us a fair deal with no concessions.” She said the proposal is “a fraction of what’s been offered” to other unionized city workers in other agreements. “They all were able to get in a three-year deal, increases of 3, 3 and 3 percent or more, plus no concessions.”
The two CUPE locals affected have been asked to accept sweeping concessions, while few other unionised City workers have been asked to do the same. Meanwhile, City councillors have allotted themselves a 2.4 per cent pay increase.
CUPE President Paul Moist addressed a rally in Toronto on 24 June. See the video here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpLvhqPFLmM

South Africa: Prison sector agrees on OSD plan

An agreement on Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) has been signed between government and labour in the Correctional Services sector concerning two PSI affliates: Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union.
The ODS introduces revised salary structures unique to different occupations in the public service for centre based and non-centre based correctional services officials.
It includes a unique salary structure, career-path opportunities, pay progression, grade progression based on performance, and recognition of appropriate experience and protection of current compensation. It also introduces differentiated salary scales for different categories of Correctional Officials, a 45-hour work week and the implementation of a seven-day establishment or shift system for centre based correctional officials.
In addition, it includes a special one-time payment to correctional officials in compensation for the late implementation of the plan.
The OSD will be phased in for correctional services workers from 1 July, recognition of experience will be implemented from 1 April 2010, and the 45-hour work week and seven-day shift system from 1 July 2009.

Summer Patrol protects young workers in Norway

The summer break is the ideal opportunity for many young people to have their first work experience. A summer job allows them to earn some extra cash, as well as learning new skills and experience for the future.
However, unscrupulous employers may take advantage of young peoples’ lack of experience to exploit them. It is to avoid this that LO, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, has set up its “Summer Patrol” (Sommerpatrulje in Norwegian), involving trade union youth officers and volunteers. PSI affiliate Fagforbundet is active in the Summer Patrol. Linn Hemmingsen, Chair of Fagforbundet Youth, said that it was important that young people know their rights and entitlements as employees in order to make the most of their summer jobs in the best possible circumstances.
The summer patrol will run from 22 June to 3 August 2009.

For more information, see LOs Sommerpatruljer:
http://www.lo.no/u/ungdom1/Kalender/LOs-Sommerpatruljer/?c=3128&t=882

And here for another article in Norwegian:
http://www.ht.no/article269950.ece

ITUC: Global trade union rights situation worsening

2008 was another difficult and often dangerous year for trade unionists around the world, according to this year’s ITUC Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights Violations, which details abuses of fundamental workers’ rights in 143 countries. 76 trade unionists were killed due to their actions to defend workers’ rights, and many more were attacked physically or subjected to harassment, intimidation or arrest by the authorities.
While the worldwide total of killings fell from 91 the previous year, the number of killings in Colombia, which is notorious as the most dangerous place on earth for trade unionists, reached 49 – an increase of 10 over the previous year.
Disturbing trends in labour rights in the industrialised countries are also evident in the Survey, with increasing recourse to contract labour and “third-party” labour agency employment eroding incomes, conditions and rights at work.

See http://www.ituc-csi.org/spip.php?article3800.

Korea union merger planned for December 2009

The Korean Government Employees' Union (KGEU), the Korea Democracy Government Employees' Union (KDGEU), and the Court Government Employees’ Union (CGEU) signed an agreement on their merger at the meeting room of the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) on 3 June. In their joint statement after a press conference, they declared, “Government employees’ unions have made a precious first step toward consolidation and unity. We will continue to unite 1 million government employees, overcome corruption and irregularities, reform the government, and realise democracy.” With this merger, the total membership will reach 128,000 members and will become the largest government employees’ union of South Korea. Source: http://www.koilaf.org/KFeng/engLabornews/bbs_read_dis.php?board_no=6100

US workers delaying retirement, survey shows

According to a survey of government managers by the US Center for State and Local Government Excellence, many state and local government employees are delaying retirement because of the economic slump.
Almost half of the respondents of the survey said 20 per cent or more of their workers were eligible to retire in the next five years, and the majority said the economy is affecting the timing of retirements. A huge 85% said employees are delaying retirement, while only 9 per cent said they are accelerating their retirements to avoid changes that will reduce benefits.
The survey showed that a majority of government managers (56 per cent) said their government did not have a formal plan to develop their workforce, while 39 per cent said they did. It highlighted the need for for human resource departments to lead workforce planning efforts so that the public sector will be well positioned when the economy recovers.
"There is a silver lining to the delayed retirements," said Elizabeth Kellar, executive director of the Center for State and Local Government Excellence. "Governments have a lot of older workers who work in specialized fields and are hard to replace. Retaining these individuals a little longer gives us more time to help new employees prepare to fill their shoes."
Read more here: http://hr.cch.com/news/hrm/052209a.asp

Health Services Task Force 2009

The PSI Health Services Task Force met in Geneva, 28-29 May. Delegates representing each of PSI's 24 sub-regions and a few other union leaders joined to examine current health issues that affect their members. The impact of the Influenza A pandemic was a subject of much discussion, and Isis Pluut and Susie Larson from the World Health Organisation gave a presentation on the probable effects of the pandemic. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, ILO, then discussed how to protect health workers from infection and their rights as employees. Rowena Blackman Stroud from the AFT presented tools used by unionists in the United States to promote policies to protect health workers.

Health issues during the economic crisis was the second theme of the meeting. Ögmundur Jónasson, PSI Executive Board member and  Minister of Health for Iceland, presented "Quality health care during an economic crisis". The meeting also listened to Anna Marriot of Oxfam, who presented the Oxfam publication "Blind optimism: the failures of private health care". Participants resolved to work together on specific initiatives aimed at changing current policies that undermine public health systems.

On the second day, participants reviewed PSI's strategic plan for the health sector. They reported on regional progress in implementation of the strategic plan, and how to further improve communications and collaboration. Other discussions covered workplace violence, safer injection methods and health worker migration. The meeting documents and presentations are now available on the PSI Health blog (http://healthblog.world-psi.org).

Migrant Workers Convention: Guide on Ratification

The International Steering Committee for the campaign for ratification of the Migrants Rights Convention has produced a Guide on Ratification for the International Convention of the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families. Seeking to better protect migrants' human rights and dignity, the new publication encourages governments worldwide to ratify and implement the Convention at the national level.

The Guide provides a summary of the Convention and discusses the process of ratification. Of particular importance to policy makers, parliamentarians and advocates, it outlines the pros and cons of ratification and refutes various misconceptions about the Convention. Download the guide here:  http://www.migrantsrights.org/documents/SCRatificationGuide4-2009Final.pdf.

PSI meets Spanish and Portuguese affiliates

PSI General Secretary, Peter Waldorff, met with Spanish and Portuguese affiliates in Madrid on 13 May 2009 to discuss new ways to defend public service workers at a global level. Waldorff also wanted to learn how the current global crisis is affecting the industry and trade unions, and the activities of PSI affiliates in Portugal and Spain.
They discussed further cooperation between PSI and its Spanish and Portuguese affiliates, including the development of projects in Latin America and North Africa, and participation in meetings concerning international disputes such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. FSP-UGT and FSC CC OO have been invited to join the next mission PSI has scheduled in this area, during the annual meeting of the Mediterranean Group in Tel-Aviv.
It was Peter Waldorff’s first visit to Spain since his election as PSI General Secretary in 2007. Julio Lacuerda, FSP-UGT General Secretary, expressed the need to strengthen and unify the activities of trade unions in a global context, while remaining active at the level of the European Union.
For further information and links, see the report on the PSI blog on the financial crisis.

St. Lucia public servants demand overdue pay increase

(27 May 2009) Hundreds of civil servants in St Lucia are expected to remain off the job for at least two days in protest against the government's decision not to give them all of a promised 7.5 per cent pay increase.
Bearing-placards and chanting and signing 'We shall overcome', the public servants took to the streets yesterday to press their demand.
The Trade Union Federation in St Lucia has rejected the government offer of a 3.5% salary increase. This year, public servants were expecting the 7.5% increase agreed in the last round of negotiations. The government blames the financial crisis for its inability to respect its promise.
At a meeting with a government technical team the TUF’s president Julian Monrose, said it will not consider any offer below 4.5%. Public servants say they will strike until the full 7.5% salary increase is paid by government.

Euro-demonstrations: Public Sector workers demonstrate to fight the crisis

On 14 May, thousands of union representatives from Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Andorra participated in the first of four Euro-demonstrations held in Madrid, Brussels (15 May), Berlin and Prague (16 May), organised by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). Under the slogan, "Fight the crisis: put the people first", the four demonstrations involved a total of 350,000 workers.
Peter Waldorff, PSI General Secretary, was present at the march in Madrid. Julio Lacuerda, General Secretary of PSI affiliate FSP-UGT, noted that public services are now more than ever necessary to address the current crisis. Candido Mendez, General Secretary of UGT, described the first Euro-demonstration of the campaign as a workers’ “demonstration of democratic force". He had expressed concern over the European Union’s lack of reaction when faced with the crisis, and underlined the need to recover Europe's most noble values, social and labour rights and a commitment to economic recovery.
For further information and links, see the report on the PSI blog on the financial crisis

New UN super-agency for women

At the next UN General Assembly in September 2009, there will be a vote for a new “super-agency for women”.  More than 300 NGOs, under the acronym GEAR (Gender Equality Architecture Reform) have been pushing for governments and the UN secretary-general to set up the new super-agency.
GEAR’s primary mission is to ensure that all women’s voices are heard throughout the United Nations Reform process so that women’s issues and concerns are given the importance that they deserve on the global agenda.  PSI, EI and the ITUC are supporting the campaign to ensure that the voices of working women are not ignored.
The UN sets global standards for human rights, but has no single agency with the resources necessary to improve the lives of women in all areas, including at work. Until now, women’s concerns were spread across four poorly coordinated UN entities, Unifem, DAW, Osagi and Instraw. It is planned that the new agency will have the staff, resources and authority to really make a difference.
For more details, see http://gear.collectivex.com/, an interactive website to discuss and obtain resources on the campaign.

PSI and EPSU support US energy union in conflict with COVANTA

(20 May 2009) The US waste incineration company Covanta Energy is seeking to take over the waste division of Dutch company Essent. Essent wants to sell its waste division, Essent Milieu, as part of its take-over by RWE, the German energy company.
Covanta has a history of environmental, health and safety, and labour relations violations in the US.
PSI affiliate in the US, the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), has published an open letter to Dutch provincial parliamentarians urging opposition to the sale to this company. PSI and EPSU have indicated their support for this action.
UWUA has released a long list of Covanta's violations of environmental standards, details of which appear in the attached briefing. In addition, Covanta has not respected trade union rights, blocking collective agreements and discriminating against unionised workers.
For more details, click here.

Creation of CONTUA

From 2 to 5 June 2009, PSI affiliates and friendly organisation will meet in Panama City for the founding of the new Confederation of Workers of the Universities of America. Involving at least 16 countries, CONTUA will have as one of its main objectives the protection of the public university, with decent working conditions for administrative staff, to ensure quality higher education.

"CONTUA has been created as thanks to the participation of many countries mainly in Latin America, but we have a vocation in the future to organise university workers throughout the world," says Marcelo Di Stefano, one of the leaders in the formation of CONTUA.

For more information, contact psiamericas@verizon.net.

Gas workers in Ukraine protest against unsafe working conditions

Back in August 2008, 8000 gas workers from the Gas Facilities Workers of Ukraine held mass protest actions following a number of accidents in the industry.
The government assured industry workers that by the end of 2008, the trade union demands would be entirely fulfilled. However, these promises were not delivered and the situation in the gas supply facilities has actually worsened.
Constant underfunding, understaffed production departments and reduction of systems maintenance has brought about a lowering of  performance, increased accidents and deaths. In 2008, 90 lives were lost in the gas industry, and 51 more people have died since the beginning of 2009.
Because of this unacceptable situation, the Gas industry workers’ trade union held a protest action on 14 May. The objectives of the union are to draw the attention of the government and other public institutions to the problems in the gas industry and to get a guarantee that they will:

• ensure a safe, well-functioning and stable gas supply and reduce the risk of accidents;
• create favourable working conditions, ensure a professional, on-going service and repair solution for the gas supply systems, and stop cutting down on staff and enforcing part-time work or unpaid holidays;
• put an end to the government sabotage of the public sector due to the non-fulfilment of government decisions and ensure the establishment of economically sound tariffs for gas distribution companies.

According to the State Committee of Health and Safety at Work, the service life of more than 70 thousand kilometers of gas pipes has expired and experts cannot guarantee their safety. If the Ukrainian government does not respond positively to the demands of the workers this time, they promise to continue protest actions.

Assessment of Stiglitz Commission recommendations

The ITUC has published its assessment (click here to download) of the final report of the Commission of Experts on reforms of the international monetary and financial system (the “Stiglitz Commission”) that was established by the President of the UN General Assembly at the beginning of the year to “identify the broad principles underlying needed institutional reforms required to ensure sustained global economic progress and stability”.  
The Stiglitz Commission report contains many recommendations in line with long standing demands from the trade union movement, and affiliates are invited to discuss the content of the report with their governments.  The full report can be found at: http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/63/838&Lang=E
The Stiglitz Commission report will be used for the UN Conference on “The World Economic and Financial Crisis and Its Impact on Development”, taking place in New York on June 24-26.  A trade union statement for that Conference is currently under preparation.

US unions key to rebuilding economy

US Vice President Joe Biden has declared that he and President Obama would not consider their economic recovery efforts a success unless they created “good, sustainable jobs” and that the key to that success is rebuilding the American labour movement.
Biden reiterated the administration’s support for the Employee Free Choice Act during his speech at a legislative conference of PSI affiliate the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. He said the best way to rebuild the working and middle class is to help labour unions grow and that “it’s time to level the playing field” for unions by passing a bill that would make it easier for workers to organise.
The Employee Free Choice Act would allow workers to form a union when a majority at a work place sign cards indicating that they wish to be represented by the union. 
See more about the Global Unions campaign for the Employee Free Choice Act here.
Read this article in full here: http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/15614/
Watch Vice President Biden’s speech at the AFSCME Legislative Conference on 12th May: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02ZMhDwNXO4
See AFSCME’s web page: www.afscme.org.

Jamaica: Government apology to public sector workers over wage freeze

Earlier this month, public sector unions in Jamaica denounced what they said was the unilateral approach by the government during a recent wage freeze. However, after more than two weeks, the government has apologised to public sector workers for announcing a freeze on their salaries before discussing it with the unions.
The finance minister, Audley Shaw apologised during a meeting of the monitoring committee of the Public Sector Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  The government has also agreed to  further discussions with the unions on the matter of the wage freeze and other issues.
The ministry says the dialogue will cover the fiscal constraints, the interests of public sector workers and the immediate, short and long term development of the country.
See http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=8962

28th April - International Workers' Memorial Day

On 28th April unions around the world will be holding events to commemorate the hundreds of thousands of workers who die in workplace "accidents" or the millions who die as a result of occupational diseases.
It is day to promote the international campaign to promote safe, healthy and decent work.
In all continents, trade unions will be marking the day with demonstrations, rallies and other events. For full details see  http://www.hazards.org/wmd/index.htm which is a joint ITUC, Global Unions and Hazards initiative to promote 28 April 2009 activities.
See also the ILO website http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/worldday/index.htm.

Union members out at sea combat pirate attack

In the battle of union members versus pirates, chalk one up for the union members. This story shows that when working people have the choice to form unions, they can ensure that they receive the proper training to keep safe on the job.
The American crew members of the Maersk Alabama - a ship recently hijacked by Somali pirates - regained control of the ship.  The seamen specifically cite their union membership as a reason for how they were able to beat the pirates. One of them said, "We are American seamen. We are union members. We stuck together, we did our jobs. And that's how we did it."
Watch the video here:  http://action.seiu.org/page/invite/pirates

Outsourcing costs billions

A recent study by PSI affilate FOA in Denmark indicates that municipalieties could make huge savings by putting an end to outsourcing. If they ensure tasks like cleaning and catering in schools, care centres and hospitals, on a nationwide scale the savings could reach billions of kroner.
"The mantra of the right-wing government in recent years has been outsourcing to make services cheaper," says Dennis Kristensen, President of FOA (photo), "but on the contrary, the expenditure of municipalities increases with the degree of outsourcing." FOA's calculations show that every time a municipality increases the extent of private actors by 5 percent, it costs each citizen of that municipality 136 kroner, or 18 euros. Multiply that amount by the number of citizens nationwide, and the figure reaches 3-4 billion kroner (400-500 million euros).
Until now only employers' organisations and the strong liberal think tank CEPOS had examined the figures. Kristensen says there is a need for independent economists who can calculate the financial implications of outsourcing. Danish taxpayers need to know that the money they pay in taxes is used as efficiently as possible.

Norway-Palestine cooperation

During the war in Gaza, Norwegians Mads Gilbert and Erik Fosse (photo) were the only western doctors working in the midst of the population of Gaza. Now Norway has made a further step in its solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The Board of Oslo's University Hospital has initiated a friendly partnership agreement with the aid organisation Norwac to send doctors and nurses to Shifa hospital in Gaza and Makassed hospital in East Jerusalem. Are Saastad, local branch leader of PSI affiliate Fagforbundet and psychiatrists Sidsel Gilbert and Svein Haugsgjerd were part of the group of employees at the Oslo hospital who wanted to know how they could help their Palestinian colleagues.
Now the Norwegian Foreign Minstry has agreed that this friendly partnership agreement is in line with government policy, and has asked Norwac to put it into practice. Oslo University Hospital employees will be able to receive paid leave to work on cooperation projects in the Palestinian hospitals.

Maori skills recognised

The collective agreement for allied and public health and technical staff in hospital now recognises the cultural and language skills of Maori health workers (hauora Maori). The agreement, which was negotiated by the PSA, covers all district health boards. Hauora Maori are defined as working almost exclusively with Maori patients and clients and hired because of their knowledge and expertise in Maori cultural matters, in addition to their clinical competence. They will be assessed for both their cultural knowledge and expertise and their clinical competence. The results of these assessments will determine the employee’s starting level on the hauora Maori salary scale. Some of the factors to be taken into account include proficiency in te reo, knowledge of tikanga and one’s own whakapapa and access to mana whenua. The PSA and the DHBs worked with Maori health organisation Te Rau Matatini to secure this significant achievement.

PSI APRO delegates on 42nd ADB Annual Meeting in Bali

The 42nd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will be held at the Bali International Convention Centre (BICC) in Bali, Indonesia, 2-5 May 2009. This year, the delegation of global unions will include not only PSI but also the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and Union Network International (UNI). Nearly eighty leaders of the PSI/BWI/UNI and their affiliates in the Asia and Pacific region will attend the 42nd Annual Meeting. Among with them are Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). In 2006, PSI was given formal accreditation by ADB to join the Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors as a trade union representative and has since participated in the 39th ADB Annual Meeting in Hyderabad, India (2006), 40th ADB Annual Meeting in Kyoto, Japan (2007) and 41st ADB Annual Meeting in Madrid, Spain (2008).

Major PSI/BWI/UNI activities in this annual meeting include a meeting with ADB President, Mr. Haruhiko Kuroda, meetings with ADB country delegations, forums and panel discussions, ADB seminars, media work and civil society solidarity dialogue.

PSI and its electricity affiliated unions in Indonesia will organise a Electricity Workers' Forum "Electricity Reform in Indonesia and Asia-Pacific: Role of ADB and JBIC" on 2nd May 2009 in Denpasar, Bali.

The Global Unions will organise a forum on Addressing the Impacts on Workers of the Global Financial and Economic Crisis to be scheduled on 3rd May 20009, 16-00 - 18.00, at Surabaya Room, BICC.  

For more information, please contact PSI AP Regional Secretary: katsuhiko.sato@world-psi.org

Ukrainian unionists to obtain special payment cards

Unionists in Ukraine will soon be able to benefit from payment cards that also take account of their union membership and privileges.
On 26 March, the Federation of Trade Unions signed an agreement with the National Bank of Ukraine to introduce the cards for 80,000 users by 2010. The following year, their use should be extended to all union members.
The cards combine the functions of credit/debit cards and an electronic union member ID card, confirming a member's right for services such as travel and medical care privileges, and buying vouchers to attend the Federation-run sanatoriums.
The cards are being introduced in the framework of the Federation's target programme for social protection of working people, which aims to support union members during the recession.

Unions in Guatemala sign collective agreement

After a long negotiation process and several days of demonstrations by health workers,  the National Health Workers Union of Guatemala (SNTSG) and the Ministry of Public Health and Welfare (MSPAS) began the process of a collective agreement on working conditions. As a result of the negotiations, it was agreed to form committees to guarantee the feasibility and compliance of the agreement. The process will also involve institutions responsible for finance, the national budget, MSPAS and the health trade union forum, who also be members of the committees.
See the final agreement here: http://cid-3d7b44805ddaa61e.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/pacto%7C_colectivo%7C_SNTSG%7C_2009.pdf?lc=3082

How Canadian citizens benefit from public spending

The majority of Canadians enjoy a higher quality of life because public services funded by their taxes come at a solid bargain, says a new study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).
The study concludes that an average middle-income family in Canada would have to spend more than half its yearly salary to buy health care, education and the other 'free' public services now paid for with tax dollars.
Canada’s Quiet Bargain: The benefits of public spending responds to incessant calls for tax cuts and concludes public services make a significant contribution to the majority of Canadians’ standard of living – worth at least 50% of their income.
The study adds up the value of public services offered by all levels of government, including child tax credit, pension, employment insurance, health visits, expenditure on roads and traffic, and broad-based public benefits like environmental protection, national defence, foreign affairs and international development. It shows that middle-income Canadian families enjoy public services worth about $41,000 – or 63% of their income.

Nordic delegation visits water affiliates in Peru

A ten-person Nordic delegation visited Peru in March 2009 to support PSI affiliates and evaluate the projects that they fund. The mission focused on establishing partnerships at the local level, and to investigate if public water companies have enough resources to invest and improve services.
The previous FENTAP congress instituted policies to be more proactive in terms of environment, youth, and gender parity and the new women and youth leaders explained the statutory reforms that have been put into place. They also talked about a new opening for an environment secretary, in line with PSI policy.
Concerning partnerships, FENTAP leads this process on a national level and participates actively in the international sphere. They said that a successful way to stand against privatisation was through public-public partnerships. The mission also met with CONA  AGUA Y VIDA who together with FENTAP will construct alliances that can bring about change in the economic and political situation in the country.
Members organisations of the PSI national coordinating committee for Peru also met the Nordic delegation and stressed the importance of support from PSI for their ongoing struggles and made special mention of capacity-building training.