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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.

EPSU publishes new research on austerity

21 January 2014

Launching the Annual Growth Survey in November, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso told us: “The return of growth shows that our policies are working. That is why, in this year’s Annual Growth Survey, we keep the same five priorities as we had last year.” And a year earlier he said: "It is crucial to stick to our strategy of growth-friendly fiscal consolidation, economic reforms and targeted investments. This is the only way to restore confidence and create lasting growth.”

EPSU angered over Eurogroup President's satisfaction over destruction of Greece

20 December 2013
Greek workers demonstrating against government austerity measures

The President of the Eurogroup, Dutch Finance Minister Dijsselbloem, issued a press release in which he notes his "satisfaction" that Greece has reached a number of milestones as agreed with the Troika, 17 December 2013. These milestones include preparing the dismissal of 12.500 public service workers (euphemistically called a mobility scheme) as well as improving the financial situation of two large water companies so they can be privatised.

Corporations must pay their fair share

06 December 2013
: Sergio Hemsani, Danny Bertossa, Nadja, Professor Sol Picciotto, J Bahn

PSI wants multinational corporations who earn large profits but avoid paying their fair share of tax to contribute to public revenue. Many of these companies use tax havens and complicated corporate structures to hide their profits. The rules that govern how multinational companies pay tax are set by national governments and guided by OECD standards. In the wake of the global financial crisis, the G20 last year asked the OECD to look at ways to change its rules so that companies paid their fair share of tax.

UK: Tax office call centre trial finds private sector performed worse

27 November 2013

Advocates of privatisation have been dealt a blow after a year-long trial in tax enquiry call centres found the private sector performed worse and was no cheaper, the Public and Commercial Services union says.

Communiqué: Public Services International Steering Committee SC-17

25 November 2013
PSI Steering Committee and staff, November 2013

Angered by the continuing attacks on public services and the workers who provide these services, distressed by the rising inequality across the world and the failure of the current economic system to provide jobs, particularly for young people, the Steering Committee reiterated its commitments to the 2013-2017 Programme of Action “Social Justice through Quality Public Services” and endorsed priority actions for 2014.

Public service workers resist austerity ‘social experiment’ in Greece

23 November 2013

The global union federation Public Services International joins Greek workers taking to the streets today in a general strike to protest the continued cuts to decent jobs and public services imposed by the ‘Troika’. In return for continued financial assistance, Greece has agreed to cut up to 40,000 public workers over the next two years.

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!

Mobilizing for action – public service workers aim for social and economic justice in Asia Pacific

18 October 2013
group photo

More than 100 leaders of unions affiliated to the global union federation Public Services International concluded meetings in Bangkok, Thailand this week by committing to take joint action to build the power and influence of public service workers in the Asia Pacific region.


The unions identified strategies to address a number of important issues, including fighting harmful free trade agreements, stopping privatization and related corruption in public services, ending violence against women, and advancing positive solutions through tax justice, stronger trade union rights, and supporting young workers and migrant workers in public services.

Funding Quality Public Services – Tax Justice Campaign

17 October 2013

PSI affiliates in the Asia Pacific region are discussing how they can engage in specific tax justice campaign activities, following an interactive workshop as part of the AP Quality Public Services Forum in Bangkok on 16 October 2013.

Africa must make tax work for the people, say regional leaders

10 October 2013
PSI participants from African affiliates

PSI affiliate members from Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Republic of Benin and Tunisia joined trade union leaders from 30 countries at the ITUC-Africa forum “Moving Africa’s development and industrialisation agenda forward: Trade union alternatives” in Accra, Ghana from 23-25 September, 2013.

Public services and decent work for all

07 October 2013
ITUC Poster for WDDW

On 7 October we celebrate the World Day for Decent Work. Public Services International (PSI) joins the international trade union movement in demanding decent work for all and an end to the continuous attacks on trade union rights around the world. We want jobs that provide decent salaries and social security with safe working conditions.

On 17 September 1,000 New Yorkers march to demand Robin Hood Tax

17 September 2013

On the second anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, and a day when the United Nations General Assembly convenes to address issues of poverty, public health and climate change, New Yorkers from every sector of the city are joining together to demand a Robin Hood Tax on Wall Street to solve America’s revenue crisis. They will march past the UN assembly meeting, stopping at JPMorgan Chase HQ, and to sites of extreme underfunding to call for a tax to fund the restoration and expansion of vital public services and to implement a real recovery for all the city’s neighborhoods. The Robin Hood Tax also seeks to fund international efforts for AIDS/HIV research and treatment and to address climate change.

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.

Tax justice and investment in public services are key to ending inequality in Brazil

28 June 2013
Protests in Rio de Janeiro 20 June 2013 by Semilla Luz

Following days of massive public protests in the streets of Brazil, Public Services International welcomed the news that, in a meeting on 26 June with Brazilian trade union leaders, the country’s President emphasized her commitment to consulting with workers on any labour reform proposals, and to addressing the need to improve quality public services.