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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 calls on EU leaders to implement broad-based financial transactions tax

13 February 2014
Robin hood FTT

In an open letter to French President François Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, PSI calls on EU leaders to implement a broad-based financial transactions tax (Robin Hood Tax) in order to fund vital public services and decent jobs necessary to end poverty and inequality, support sustainable development and address climate change.

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.