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Public Funding/Tax Justice

The gap between the rich and the rest of us is growing rapidly. In many countries, the richest 1% pay less tax than everyone else. Profitable multinational corporations use loopholes and tax havens to avoid paying their share. Around the world, inequality is growing. A taxation system based on fairness and ability to pay is the first step in reversing this attack on the middle class.

PSI launches first major union perspective on UBI: no silver bullet

29 April 2019

A new report, released by Public Services International, New Economics Foundation and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung highlights the need to fight for collective responses to inequality and austerity, rather than individualised cash payments.

"We require a strong and well-resourced public sector"

19 April 2019

On 18 April, PSI Deputy General Secretary David Boys took part in the Forum on Financing for Development at the United Nations in New York, where he spoke on behalf of the CSO FFD group. Watch his intervention here.

UN report says global tax system needs urgent reform

09 April 2019

The fourth edition of United Nations “Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2019” says a failure to reshape both national and international financial systems will undermine the SDGs and limit our ability to end extreme poverty and combat climate change.

PCS supports series of strikes over Ealing tax office closure

19 March 2019

As members of UK PSI affiliate Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working at HM Revenue and Customs walk out of the closure-threatened Ealing office at noon on 20 March, PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka will join them on the picket line.

CSO Forum on “Social Protection and Transformative Fiscal and Wage Policy" (New York)

08 February 2019

This Forum has been organized to prepare civil society participants to engage at the 57th Session of the Commission for Social Development (11 to 21 February 2018 at the UNHQ in New York).

70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

10 December 2018

Today, 10 December, we celebrate International Human Rights Day and the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

10 years on from the crisis, ICRICT calls for urgent regulatory action

14 September 2018

A decade on from the Global Financial Crisis and just blocks from Wall Street, the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation met in New York last week to highlight the urgent need for financial reform.

Inspiring campaigning! #TaxJustice for Women's Rights Global Days of Action

27 March 2017

The final week of the #TaxJustice for Women's Rights Global Days of Action has been extremely busy. These have been truly global days of action, as you will see from the photos, events and actions from around the world.

Water and Sanitation are Human Rights, NOW!

21 March 2016
logo

On 22 March, PSI celebrated World Water Day. The UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 requires that governments ensure universal access to water and sanitation by 2030. However, we are seeing a new push for public-private partnerships (PPPs). We know that PPPs fail to deliver social and environmental targets, and PSI will help affiliates block this approach. We call for a rights-based approach, with public finance and management in the interests of all.

Robin Hood Tax arrives for the common good in Europe

15 May 2014

Public Services International welcomes the landmark news that 10 EU countries have agreed to introduce a financial transactions tax (FTT), also known as a Robin Hood Tax. PSI and our affiliates are proud to be working with civil society allies at the forefront of the global movement for tax justice, which includes campaigning for the FTT to end poverty and inequality by funding quality public services.

Stick with it! We want a Financial Transaction Tax now!

15 November 2013
Financial transaction tax now! logo

For many years, the coalition of “Europeans For Financial Reform” has been campaigning for the introduction of a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) in Europe as a first but essential step towards an international FTT. This year, 11 EU-Member States agreed to implement the FTT based on a proposal from the European Commission. Since then, the financial lobby has been pressing hard to postpone the introduction of the FTT and to carve out all sorts of exemptions. The coalition calls on all our supporters to remind the governments of these 11 countries not to give in to lobbying and to stick with their promises! We want the Financial Transaction Tax now!

Call for a Robin Hood Tax Now

05 September 2013

You can help send a message to European Union leaders that this tiny tax on banks is vital. It will curb harmful speculation while raising billions to end inequality. When the Robin Hood Tax is successfully adopted in the EU, it will show other nations how a small financial transactions tax can make a big difference.

PSI stands with Detroit and public workers

29 August 2013
Background image is part of a mural by Diego Rivera called Detroit Industry, North Wall at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Detroit is the largest city to file for bankruptcy in United States history. But it is not the only city in economic crisis, and what happens in Detroit matters—it matters to AFSCME members who have dedicated their working lives to providing quality public services to the city and community, it matters to workers and retirees across the United States and around the world, it matters to all public sector workers who we depend upon to provide quality public services to citizens around the world. Detroit matters to all of us and we stand in solidarity with the workers and retirees of the city.

23 June Public Services Day: A global tax justice movement to end inequality

23 June 2013

On 23 June, World Public Services Day, PSI stands with the world’s largest labour and non-governmental organisations in “putting world leaders on notice – members of civil society are uniting for tax justice everywhere.”



Public Services International leader Rosa Pavanelli says, “We are proud to be working at the forefront of the rapidly growing global movement to demand tax justice and accountability in public spending for the common good. Redistributing the wealth that workers help to create is not an option, it is an imperative.”

To win quality public services we must have tax justice

24 May 2013

More and more people are seeing the damage caused by regressive taxes. Stagnant economies. Lost jobs. Sky-high youth unemployment. Deep cuts in public services. The result is a dramatic privatisation of services; associated corruption is often one of the major consequences which impacts public budgets, prices and tax policies.


It’s a world-wide trend. It requires a unified, coordinated response backed by positive solutions.

A Financial Transactions Tax for the future we want

09 July 2012
Robin Hood Tax logo

Rio de Janeiro – 22 June 2012:

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, known as RIO+20, has taken place at a critical moment. The G20, meeting almost simultaneously, has not shown enough collective will by the world’s major economies to resolve the economic and financial turmoil we face. Member states of the European Union are facing a crucial test of their leadership in overcoming the financial and debt crisis. They are being called to choose whether or not to adopt a FTT for human and sustainable development. A positive answer could lead to a fairer and more sustainable future for the EU and contribute to sustainable human development worldwide.

No to Austerity!

19 November 2011

Public services and public service workers are under pressure in almost all European countries with austerity measures affecting EPSU members directly. Collective bargaining, the autonomy of the social partners and social dialogue are under attack in many countries in the Euro-zone, in the EU and in other European countries.

Apply a financial transaction tax to heal global inequities

12 October 2011

Public Services International affiliate healthcare members from Europe and elsewhere are invited to join the delegation for a special event now scheduled for 3 November at the G20 Summit in Cannes, France. This action to promote a financial transaction tax to world leaders is led by PSI, our affiliate National Nurses United, the International Trade Union Confederation and civil society partners.

PSI launches first major union perspective on UBI: no silver bullet

29 April 2019

A new report, released by Public Services International, New Economics Foundation and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung highlights the need to fight for collective responses to inequality and austerity, rather than individualised cash payments.

Tax justice and gender justice in Africa

30 October 2018

This study on tax and public services impact on women and girls in Ghana was commissioned by PSI with support from Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). The study is available in English and the executive summaries are available in French and Spanish.

PSI General Secretary’s speech at PSI JC’s 30th anniversary

09 July 2018

PSI General Secretary, Rosa Pavanelli, gave a speech at PSI Japan Council's (PSI-JC) 30th anniversary which took place in Tokyo on 22 June 2018. This was part of a three-day visit, invited by PSI-JC, the National Coordinating Committee of PSI affiliates in Japan.

FOCUS on tax justice - International union rights

17 May 2018

FOCUS on tax justice is Volume 25 Issue 1 2018 of the journal of International Union Rights. The journal is published four times a year in English and has earned a reputation as the leading independent forum for global trade union debate, winning a readership in more than 100 countries worldwide. The editorial "Corporate tax dodging is stealing from workers and must be stopped" in this issue was written by PSI.

Spotlight Report: "Reclaiming Policies for the Public"

07 July 2017

Report by the Civil Society Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

PSI research paper explores options for sustainable and fair local and regional government funding

03 April 2017

PSI has just published a research briefing note that reviews options for local and regional governments (LRGs) to sustainably and progressively fund quality public services for local communities and tackle the challenges posed by rapid urbanization and increasing demands placed upon LRGs  in a context of shrinking resources, corporate tax avoidance and rising city and territory-based tax competition. The brief summarizes the related discussion paper, which is open for comments and contributions till the end of May 2017.

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).

Policy brief EB-148 : Tax Justice

04 October 2016

This policy brief on Tax Justice was produced for the PSI Executive Board EB-148 held at the ILO in Geneva (Switzerland) on 19-20 May 2016. Its objective is to inform EB-148 of activities in tax since EB-147, that took place in Geneva (Switzerland) in May 2015, and to inform EB-148 of proposed action in tax for 2016. The brief is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese.

Tax Justice : Nigeria Report

23 September 2016

This detailed research paper by Jane Lethbridge from Public Services International Research Institute outlines the current issues surrounding tax evasion, avoidance and illicit financial flows in Nigeria and outlines some potential solutions.

Gender and Tax Justice Resources

07 September 2016

These presentations and concept note were produced for PSI's global forum "No Gender Justice Without Tax Justice" held in London, 30 June-1 July 2016.

Ghana: Tax Justice and Public Sector Restructuring

06 September 2016

This background document was prepared for a Conference on Tax Justice held in Ghana as part of a two-year project (funded by FNV) with affiliate trade unions in Ghana, with the aim of promoting quality public services through a fair tax system under conditions of decent work.

Mistreated: The tax treaties that are depriving the world’s poorest countries of vital revenue

25 February 2016
Mistreated

ActionAid has released a new report that reveals how tax treaties are reducing the tax that some of the world’s poorest countries can collect from multinational companies.

Table of missing tax payments

10 November 2015

Corporations do not always want to pay tax on their profits where they are making their profits. They often engage in a strategy called profit shifting whereby, through artificial subsidiary companies they shift their profits into low or no tax countries and thereby avoid paying taxes where profits are made. Research by the Tax Justice Network reveals the real figures behind missing tax.

Still Broken

09 November 2015

Governments must do more to fix the international corporate tax system
New research shows that the gap between where companies pay tax and where they really do their business is huge. In 2012, US multinationals alone shifted $500–700bn, mostly to countries where these profits are not taxed, or taxed at very low rates. G20 countries themselves are among the biggest losers. The measures recently announced by the OECD leave the fundamentals of a broken tax system intact and do not stop the race to the bottom in corporate taxation. G20 governments must do more and should strongly support further reforms.

Chevron’s tax schemes: piping profits out of Australia?

11 September 2015

Chevron’s tax practices, and those of other corporations, have huge implications for the living standards and public revenues to fund essential services in countries across the globe.

CSO Forum on “Social Protection and Transformative Fiscal and Wage Policy" (New York)

08 February 2019

This Forum has been organized to prepare civil society participants to engage at the 57th Session of the Commission for Social Development (11 to 21 February 2018 at the UNHQ in New York).

Corporate power international seminar

27 July 2018

The principal objective of this activity wasto cultivate a broad discussion of the mechanisms that strengthen corporate power while connecting directly to PSI´s global priorities including tax justice, the fight against privatization and free trade agreements.

Tax Justice Network’s annual conference (Lima)

13 June 2018

The Tax Justice Network’s annual conference "Paradise lost? Inequality and tax injustice" is taking place this Wednesday 13 June to Thursday 14 June in Lima, Peru. The conference, jointly hosted with FES and Latindadd, brings together campaigners, researchers, policy makers and tax experts from across the world to share the inspiring and vital work they are doing on tax justice.

Financing for Development (FfD) forum (New York)

24 April 2018

PSI is participating in the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow-up (FfD) at the United Nations in New York (23-26 April), represented by Helene Davis-Whyte (JALGO, Jamaica) and Richard Amparbeng (PSWU, Ghana) with the support of Sandra Vermuyten, PSI Head of Campaigns.

Global conference of the Platform for Collaboration on Tax: “Taxation and the Sustainable Development Goals”

15 February 2018
Photo: Chris Potter - Creative Commons

As part of its global campaign for tax justice, PSI is co-hosting a side-event on 16 February at the First Global Conference of the Platform for Collaboration on Tax. The side event will focus on The role of tax policy in reducing intersecting inequalities and achieving the SDGs.

Civil Society Policy Forum (IMF/World Bank 2016 Annual Meetings)

28 September 2016

The Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) has become an integral part of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Spring and Annual Meetings, providing an open space for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to dialogue and exchange views with World Bank Group and IMF staff, their peers, government delegations, and other stakeholders on a wide range of topics.

World Social Forum 2016 (Montreal, Canada)

13 July 2016
WSF2016

The World Social Forum is the largest global gathering of civil society to find solutions to the problems of our time by building concrete alternatives to the neoliberal economic model and to politics based on the exploitation of human beings and nature.

UNCTAD 14

11 July 2016
UNCTAD14

The United Nations Committee on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) over many years has provided one of the less neo-liberal forums on trade and development in the UN system. PSI in the past has supported its work and will send a delegation to UNCTAD 14 which is taking place in Nairobi on 17-22 July this year.

Tax justice workshop in Jamaica

24 June 2016

This workshop, organised with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), contributes to PSI’s work in building union capacity to advocate for tax justice and to influence global tax policy through advocacy at national and global levels.

Forum: No Gender Justice without Tax Justice

15 June 2016

PSI and FES are organising a tax and gender forum in London, 30 June - 1 July 2016 on the theme of “No gender justice without tax justice”.

Tax Justice Forum: How to spread that wealth around

01 June 2016

At a time when inequality is rising and public services are being cut, the Panama Papers have shone a new light on corporate accountability. We are looking for new ways to fund development - tax policy has never been more relevant.

Sovereign debt, a global problem: international experiences and the situation of Puerto Rico

29 February 2016

The seminar “Sovereign debt, a global problem: international experiences and the situation of Puerto Rico” will be taking place on 30 March 2016 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at the Verdanza Hotel

Global Labour Tax Summit

28 July 2015
Photo: Tax - Creative Commons - 401Kcalculator.org

PSI is organising a Global Labour Tax Summit in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), to examine tax issues from a labour perspective; with inequality rising rapidly and tax scandals increasingly making front page news, public anger is growing.

Adriano Campolina, ActionAid, speaks about taxation

25 February 2016

Interview with Adriano Campolina, Executive Director of ActionAid International, at the PSI-FES Global Labour Tax Summit that took place in Geneva, Switzerland on 17-18 September 2015.

Missing Tax

10 November 2015

US corporations alone managed to shift $500-700 billion - a quarter of their annual profits - out of countries where the money was made and into a handful of low- or no-tax jurisdictions. The missing tax has real consequences. Across the world, falling government revenues are having a direct human cost for some of the poorest people through cuts to essential services.

Video: Globalisation in the absence of appropriate tax frameworks can lead to distortions in global efficiency

16 June 2015

Joseph E. Stiglitz, American economist and a professor at Columbia University, talks at the ICRICT panel "Expanding the debate on taxing global corporate profits" that took place in Trento, Italy on 2 June 2015.

Photos: Expanding the debate on taxing global corporate profits

15 June 2015

ICRICT panel held during the Trento Festival of Economics in Italy, 2 June 2015 on tax reform with globally prominent leaders and economists, Joseph Stiglitz, José Antonio Ocampo, Eva Joly, Rosa Pavanelli and Jayati Ghosh.

Video: We must improve the governance of the international tax system

15 June 2015

José Antonio Ocampo, Former UN Undersecretary-General, Former Minister of Finance of Colombia and currently Professor, Colombia University, at the ICRICT panel in Trento on 2 June, explains to us the main points of the ICRICT report.

Video: We are losing massive resources to tax avoidance

12 June 2015

Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, speaks at the ICRICT panel in Trento, Italy on 2 June 2015.

Video: Multinationals are depriving developing countries of their fair share of taxes

12 June 2015

Eva Joly, French magistrate and politician for Europe Écologie–The Greens, speaks at the ICRICT panel in Trento, Italy on 2 June 2015.

Video: Multinationals are attacking democracy

12 June 2015

Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, speaks at the ICRICT panel on tax reform in Trento, Italy on 2 June 2015.

Video: Brazil - cuts and privatisation damaging health and other public services

01 June 2015

In this video, Juneia Batista, WOC Chair, talks about the situation in her home country, Brazil. She says that 2015 has started poorly, with the government introducing new measures to allow foreign capital into the Brazilian health system.

Audio: Radio Interview with Daniel Bertossa

17 November 2014

PSI Policy Director, Daniel Bertossa is interviewed by Chris Ilsley on Australian radio 6PR Perth Tonight about tax havens and the need to push for fair taxation. Mr Bertossa was in Australia to call on the G20 Leaders to meet their promise to stop multinational corporations from dodging hundreds of billions of dollars each year.

Video: The fightback against austerity

07 July 2014

Public Services International (PSI), the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), together with our affiliate unions, ADEDY, and allies in Greece brought together a team of expert union journalists and communicators. This solidarity exchange enabled PSI communicators from other countries to learn more about the issues facing Greek trade unionists and share this understanding with their union members and communities around the world.

Video: Trade agreements and the threat to quality public services

24 June 2014

Sanya Reid Smith - Third World Network, Guest speaker at PSI's Executive Board meeting in Nyon, Switzerland 24-25 June 2014.

Audio: A RadioLabour interview with Rosa Pavanelli on World Public Services Day

23 June 2014

Monday June 23: World Public Services Day. All around the world governments are attacking public services and the workers who help supply them. As well, a number of international trade agreements are jeopardizing the right of governments to provide public services instead of corporations.

Photos: Tax Justice & Anti-Corruption Forum, Argentina, April 2014

23 May 2014

More than 100 members of affiliate unions of Public Services International (PSI) came together from across the Americas for a Tax Justice and Anti-Corruption Forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina in late April 2014.

Video: Why we need a tax justice campaign in Ghana

21 February 2014

Watch this inspiring two minute video interview about the need for a tax justice campaign in Ghana, with Bernard Adjei, Deputy General Secretary, Public Service Workers Union (PSWU TUC).