We've moved to a new site!

Join us at publicservices.international - for all the latest news, resources and struggles from around the world.

We are no longer updating world-psi.org and it will be progressively phased out: all content will be migrated to the new site and old links will redirect eventually.

  1. Home
  2. Issues
  3. Quality Public Services

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.

Speech by PSI General Secretary in Nigeria

08 July 2013

Speech given by Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, during her official visit to Nigeria on 2-5 July 2013.

Indian floods: PSI solidarity message

04 July 2013

Following the massive flooding in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, India in June 2013, PSI expresses its solidarity, support and sympathy to the people and to the workers delivering essential public services in the affected areas.

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.

Special report: PSI at the International Labour Conference, June 2013

26 June 2013

Every year, the International Labour Conference (ILC) takes places in Geneva. It brings together more than 5000 delegates and is often called an international parliament of labour. The Conference establishes and adopts international labour standards and is a forum for discussion of key social and labour questions. The ILC took place 5-20 June 2013.

Paraguay: No to the privatisation of the energy sector

24 June 2013
Paraguay: No to the privatisation of the energy sector

Following actions from PSI affiliate SITRANDE (Sindicato de Trabajadores de la ANDE), including demonstrations in Asuncion uniting workers from all over the country, and strong support from PSI, the parliament of Paraguay decided to postpone on Tuesday 18 June any decision on the regulatory system of electricity.

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.”

El Salvador: Public-Private Partnership law

14 June 2013
Workers and university groups gather outside the Legislative Assembly to call on legislators to not approve the P3 law

PSI joined the struggle to stop the US-backed Public-Private Partnership (P3) law in El Salvador.

Communiqué: PSI Executive Board meeting, 16-17 May 2013

20 May 2013

Ninety affiliate leaders of Public Services International, headed by 36 Executive Board titular members, met 16-17 May 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss issues facing public service workers and to adopt PSI action priorities for 2013 and beyond. Highlights from this meeting are outlined below.

Your Future in Public Hands

14 May 2013
Green poster: Your Future in Public Hands

Public services are under attack and action is needed to ensure that in the future quality public services will be available to young and old, generating social justice and equality for all.

New Zealand Public Service Association celebrates 100th anniversary

29 April 2013
PSA centenary banner

This year the PSA celebrates its centenary. It’s a huge milestone for the union and a year-long programme of events has been organised across New Zealand.

The union has commissioned a centenary banner and published two books: an oral history of the PSA from 1984 to 2012, and a biography of one of the union’s most influential leaders, Dan Long, who was president (1958-60) and general secretary (1961-76).

International Workers' Day - 1 May 2013

26 April 2013
PSI Poster for 1 May 2013

Your future is in public hands - quality public services for all!


The international labour movement celebrates 1 May in memory of the activists who were killed in the Haymarket massacre of 1886 while demonstrating for the eight-hour work day. Today, using the pretext of the economic and financial crises, neo-liberal forces around the world are determined to eliminate workers’ right to bargain collectively and hard-won social and labour rights. Workers and our communities are uniting to turn back the wave of measures being used to increase privatisation, claw back public spending, reduce the size and role of the state, and to attack social dialogue and collective bargaining in public sector workplaces.

28 April 2013 International Workers' Memorial Day

24 April 2013
Vaccine box with Kick Polio out of Nigeria logo

Honouring frontline workers who’ve lost their lives while helping others


On 28 April, International Workers’ Memorial Day, Public Services International and affiliate members join in our workplaces and communities to honour fellow workers who have been injured or lost their lives in the delivery of public services.

Rosa Pavanelli joins thousands in FTT rally in Washington

22 April 2013
Rally against FTT in Washington with Rosa Pavanelli holding banner

Nearly 2,000 people, including PSI affiliates from across the Inter-Americas, gathered in Washington on 20 April to demand President Obama and Treasury Secretary Lew stop pursuing austerity and instead support a financial transaction tax on Wall Street, commonly referred to as a “Robin Hood Tax.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

21 March 2013

Quality public services key to promoting equality in our workplaces and societies

On the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March 2013, Rosa Pavanelli, leader of the global union federation Public Services International affirms that PSI and its members “renew our commitment to end discrimination and defend equality in our workplaces and our communities.”

Tags: 
Human rights
Migration
Quality public services
Trade union rights
Racism

Rosa Pavanelli addresses UN session on water and disasters

14 March 2013
Rosa Pavanelli on the UN panel

How to salvage the $50 billion lost to water-related disasters every year? How to maintain disaster-prone areas like cyclone-exposed coastlines, where the human population has skyrocketed 192 per cent over the last 30 years? How to protect impoverished peoples who get hit the hardest, like the 783 million living without clean drinking water, or the millions along the Niger River sacked by flooding?

Tags: 
Emergencies and Disasters
Environment
Quality public services
Water and sanitation
Climate change