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Multinationals

Globalisation has given rise to extraordinarily large and powerful multinational enterprises (MNEs). Many are active in sectors providing essential public services, including water and sanitation, health and social services, energy, waste collection and treatment. Some have earnings that dwarf some national economies. MNEs scan the world for natural resources, tax havens, the lowest environmental standards, and the lowest wages. They relentlessly assert their rights to profit in international institutions, tax and trade agreements.

Global Framework Agreements

Within this context, Global Framework Agreements (GFAs) negotiated between global trade union federations and multinational enterprises are a tool for trade unions with direct membership in such companies to build power, assert their members’ rights and conditions, resolve outstanding conflicts, improve social dialogue and working conditions. GFAs set a threshold of human and labour rights and conditions beyond minimum national and international standards that signatory MNEs commit to abide by. They also help connect and build solidarity among trade unions and workers of the same MNEs across national boundaries.

PSI has negotiated three GFAs with multinational corporations active in the energy sector: these are EDF Group, ENGIE (formerly GDF-Suez) and ENEL, plus a specific agreement with ENGIE (formerly GDF-Suez) on occupational safety and health (OSH).

Women’s Rights Organizations call on Governments to Reject the WTO Declaration on “Women’s Economic Empowerment”

12 December 2017

According to the signatories of the letter, including PSI, the declaration “fails to address the adverse impact of WTO rules and instead appears to be designed to mask the failures of the WTO and its role in deepening inequality and exploitation”.

Civil society organizations protest against WTO Ministerial Conference

11 December 2017

PSI was one of the organizations that drove the action. According to Jocelio Drummond, Regional Secretary of PSI Inter-America, "the main struggle is to prevent the WTO from expanding its area of action on new issues, for example, electronic commerce".

EDF’s astonishing hypocrisy : during global talks on corporate social responsibility, EDF subsidiary in Belgium illegally fires workers

30 June 2017

On 29 June, 14 workers of EDF Luminus were summarily dismissed, without prior notifications, consultations, negotiations (one worker on sick leave was fired by SMS) – in apparent violation of a number of sectoral and national laws and regulations.

23 June - Want to fund better public services? End corporate tax dodging

29 June 2017
Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary

For decades we’ve been told that there simply isn’t enough money available to properly fund our public services. It is up to us to challenge this.

PSI North America: Principles for Nafta renegotiation

26 June 2017

PSI affiliates in the US and Canada comment on the NAFTA renegotiations submitted to the United States Trade Representative (USTR). "We need a new approach to trade that puts the interests of working people and the environment first. We need an economy that puts a high priority on jobs, living standards, sustainability, and labor rights." Click on the image below to read it in full.

The Australian Services Union (ASU) and other unions win a just transition deal for ENGIE Hazelwood workers with the State of Victoria and local energy employers

22 May 2017

On May 1st the Government of the Australian State of Victoria, announced the signature of the Latrobe Valley Worker Transfer Scheme Partnership Agreement, a landmark agreement on a just employment transition for workers in the energy sector moving from carbon-intensive towards low-carbon and renewable power generation.

PSI supports the release of ICRICT's second declaration

16 November 2016

"Four Ways to Tackle International Tax Competition" was launched on 15 November in Brussels by the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT).

PSI at the Open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights

24 October 2016

From 24 to 28 October 2016, Public Services International, together with Governments, regional and political groups, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, NGOs and many other relevant stakeholders, will be participating in the 2nd public meetings of the Open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights (OEIWG), which could lead to the adoption of an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations (TNCs or MNEs).

EU Apple Tax Ruling shows austerity is a political decision, says Pavanelli

31 August 2016
Protesting Against Apple's Tax Policy - Dublin Street Art (William Murphy/Flickr)

The EU’s tax ruling on Apple announced on 30 August shows that finally the European Commission (EC) is acknowledging that austerity is a political, not economic, choice. That's the main message behind the striking decision, according to PSI General Secretary who congratulated the EC for showing the political will to chase large multinationals like Amazon and McDonald's (also currently under investigation).

Public services and their unions crucial to bridge the Decent Work deficit in Global Supply Chains

10 July 2016
Daria Cibrario

Between 30 May and 10 June 2016, the International Labour Organization (ILO) held a general discussion on “Decent Work in Global Supply Chains” within the 105th Session of International Labour Conference (ILC). The discussion was meant to review the decent work performance of global supply chains and to ascertain what steps are needed to ensure that employment led by multinational corporations (MNEs) is decent and upholds the eight fundamental ILO Conventions, including freedom of association and collective bargaining. The ILO produced a background report for this discussion.

Billionaire corporations pay lower effective tax rate than your average nurse, new study finds

20 April 2016
cover page

Financial data from 76 of Australia’s largest multinationals has revealed they pay an average effective tax rate of 16.2% – half the corporate tax rate.

Campaign against TPPA and TISA approved in PSI's regional meeting in Chile

13 April 2016

Representatives of unions affiliated to PSI agreed to make mobilization efforts, partnerships with civil society, lobbying parliaments and campaign material that allows raising public awareness through simple language to explain the negative impact of this type of treaty.

Brazilian Network for the Integration of Peoples denounces the risk of "breakdown of the democratic order" in Brazil

06 April 2016

"REBRIP is joining the struggle and the social movements of the country, and reaffirms its resistance to a coup and its confidence in the pillars of democracy and respect for human rights guaranteed by the Brazilian constitution."

Final Declaration of the seminar on Public Debt and the Puerto Rican situation

31 March 2016

The participants of the International Seminar “Public Debt, a global problem: international experiences
and Puerto Rico’s situation” held on March 30, 2016 in San Juan, capital city of Puerto Rico, expressed
their strong support and solidarity with the Puerto Rican people in their struggle to overcome the fiscal,
economic and social crisis they are facing.

RCEP threatens tax policies in India and other 15 countries

01 March 2016
map

The website of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has no mention of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on which officials from 16 countries, including India, met for a round of secret trade talks in Brunei from 15-19 February. This mega Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to be concluded by the end of 2016.

PSI Guidelines on the Conclusion of International Agreements with Multinational Enterprises

29 August 2012

Public Services International has published these guidelines for negotiating and concluding international agreements with multinational enterprises.

Impact of the economic crisis and austerity measures on women

04 July 2012

Women are losing jobs in both the private and public sectors, which has an immediate effect on household income but a much longer term effect on the role of women in the labour force.

Annual Report 2010

05 April 2011

In the face of widening cuts to public services and attacks on the rights of public sector workers around the world, leaders of private and public sector trade unions, municipal governments and civil society groups made the unprecedented joint commitment to work together to promote investment in quality public services backed by fair taxation policies as the key solution to the economic crisis, and the best way to build peaceful, equitable, democratic and environmentally-sustainable societies.

GDF-Suez Global Agreement on Fundamental Rights, Social Dialogue and Sustainable Development (2010)

16 November 2010

GDF SUEZ, the world’s second largest gas, water services, and electric utility, Public Services International (PSI), IndustriALL, and the Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) and are committed to the “Global Agreement on Fundamental Rights, Social Dialogue, and Sustainable Development”. The agreement contains best practice language on trade union rights.

Annual Report 2009

03 April 2010

Environmental and social sustainability provided the primary theme for PSI’s work in 2009. Leading into the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen in December, trade unions and civil society allies worked hard to ensure that world leaders would agree on an ambitious plan to reduce carbon emissions. Alas, this dream did not become reality. But we are committed to continuing this struggle and achieving real results.

Annual Report 2008

03 April 2009

Looking back at 2008 the one word that comes to mind is CHANGE. We saw a dramatic change in the global economy, it was the keyword in the US election and we initiated changes in PSI.

EDF Group on corporate social responsibility (2009)

25 January 2009

The agreement, effective in all countries in which Electricite de France (EDF Group) has controlling companies, affirms a commitment to uphold all Fundamental ILO Core Conventions on Trade Union and workers' rights, UN Declarations on Human Rights, and the ten principles of the UN's Global Compact.