APRECON Part 2 of 2

The global union federation Public Services International (PSI) held its 12th Asia Pacific Regional Conference (APRECON) in Sydney, Australia from 17-21 October 2011. Over 200 union delegates from 22 countries met to discuss public service and trade union rights issues under the banner theme "People First—Quality Public Services Are Key." A large delegation of Australian public sector unions including the PSA and the CPSU participated in the conference.

Union Delegates discussed the impact of the economic crisis on women, how increasing levels of "precarious work" (casualisation) are linked to the privatisation of public services, how public services are the front line in preparing for, and in recovery after disasters in Japan, Australia and New Zealand, and how to fight for human and trade union rights in countries including Fiji, Korea, and Indonesia.