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Quality Public Services

In co-operation with other global federations of unions, PSI has launched the Quality Public Services – Action Now! campaign. This campaign unites public and private sector trade unions, municipal governments and civil society groups in advancing quality public services as the best means of building equitable, sustainable, peaceful and democratic societies. We believe investment in quality public services backed by fair taxation policies is a key solution to the economic crisis.

International Workers' Day - 1 May 2014

01 May 2014
Quality Public Services

The first of May symbolizes the struggle of the international labour movement. In 2014, International Workers’ Day, May Day, is as relevant as ever. Six years of austerity and neo-liberal policies washing over entire continents have left trade unions struggling for fundamental freedoms and rights at work all over again. Twenty-five years after the break-up of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Iron Curtain, the world is engulfed in another ideological and economic battle. Public service workers from Canada to Paraguay, Algeria to Botswana, South Korea to Thailand and Turkey to Spain, are fighting for their rights and against anti-worker policies, often risking their lives.

PSI at the Global Dialogue Forum on Collective Bargaining in the Public Service

15 April 2014

PSI took part in the Global Dialogue Forum on Challenges to Collective Bargaining in the Public Service which was held at the ILO, Geneva, on 2-3 April 2014. The Forum brought together participants from governments, employer participants and worker participants nominated by the Employers’ group and the Workers’ group of the Governing Body, respectively. It examined an Issues paper prepared by the Office.

Working for the many - public services fight inequality

07 April 2014

The UK-based NGO Oxfam has published a 26-page booklet "Working for the many," that calls on governments to urgently reform tax systems and increase public spending on free public services, such as health and education, to tackle inequality and prevent us being tipped irrevocably into a world that works for the few, not the many.

Korea health workers’ union anti-privatisation campaign

03 April 2014

On 26 March PSI affiliate Korea Health and Medical Workers’ Union (KHMU) held its second central bargaining meeting and demanded employers to join the national campaign against the privatization of the healthcare system. During the negotiations which included representatives of both the employers and the union, KHMU presented its demands.

If you want to know about hospital quality, ask a nurse

18 March 2014
group of nurses

Recent research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing shows that nurses' assessment of hospital quality is invariably accurate.

Putting public in public services: Research, action and equity in the Global South

18 March 2014
Municiapl Serivces Project logo

The international conference Putting public in public services: Research, action and equity in the Global South, to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, on 13-16 April 2014, will bring together progressive academics and NGOs who work closely with PSI and our affiliates on a range of public services.

The tragedy of the private, the potential of the public

17 March 2014
Man dressed as clown holding banner against water privatisation

This new booklet co-published by Public Services international and the Transnational Institute surveys anti-privatisation campaigns by PSI affiliates around the world. From South Africa to Brazil, from Italy to the US, in Uruguay, Greece, Norway, the UK and in many other countries, municipal councils are taking services back under public control.

After Yolanda: Government employees are also human beings

11 March 2014

Four months after Typhoon Haiyan, or Yolanda as it's known in the Phlippines, PSI affiliate in the Philippines, PSLINK, has put together a photo report of the effects Yolanda has had on the population and more specifically on the lives of public sector workers.

Message from ILO Director-General on World Day of Social Justice, 20 February 2014

19 February 2014

As the world marks the Day of Social Justice, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder urges 'policy-makers to converge on the ambition of a real global socio-economic recovery – a recovery for all – and a Post-2015 Development Agenda that helps lift all out of poverty.'

UK: Closure of 281 tax offices will abandon vulnerable taxpayers

13 February 2014
PCS

The closure announced on 12 February of all the UK's 281 walk-in tax offices will abandon vulnerable taxpayers and could cost more than it will save, says PSI affiliate the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS).

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.

Asia Pacific News Bulletin 2013

30 December 2013

Asia Pacific news is published and electronically distributed five times a year by Public Services International Asia and Pacific Regional Organisation (PSI APRO).

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.

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.