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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.

Canada: Outlining the risks of public-private-partnerships

11 September 2012

The Canadian union CUPE has launched a new guide for municipalities, outlining the risks of public-private partnerships.

Sweden: Crisis package rescued 8,500 municipal jobs

03 September 2012
Road workers

When the financial crisis hit, the Swedish government provided temporary grants to the municipal sector. Calculations now show that the money saved 8,500 jobs.

New Zealand: Public service battles job cuts

31 August 2012
Parliament building Wellington, New Zealand

More than 500 people have lost their jobs government administration In New Zealand. The public sector union is questioning how far the government is willing to rundown the public service.

World day for decent work

29 August 2012
Rally in Spain

Trade unions around the world will organise mobilisations, events and activities on October 7 to demand decent jobs and full respect for workers’ rights.

UK: Public sector pensioners to lose billions

15 August 2012
Workers on railway line

Public sector workers will lose more than £8.5 billion a year through cuts to their pensions. - A massive transfer of wealth away from public servants, says trade union leaders.

Remunicipalisation: A new trend in Europe

13 August 2012
Men working in the street

Privatisation, contracting out and outsourcing have been the dominant trends in public services. Now there is increasing evidence of trends in the opposite direction, according to a report from EPSU.

Nigeria: Privatisation forced at gunpoint

07 August 2012
Man with microphone speaking

Nigeria is privatising the public power holding company, and employees were forced at gunpoint to listen to speeches from the Minister of Power and the Minister of Labour. "Is Nigeria still a military dictatorship?" asks PSI in a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Tags: 
Energy
Privatisation
Quality public services
Trade union rights
Water and sanitation
Electricity
Gas

Victory in Italy as court blocks privatisation

27 July 2012
Model of the earth with slogans in Italian

On 20th July, the Italian Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional Article 4 of the Decree Law 138 of August 13, 2011, by which, the Berlusconi government re-introduced the privatisation of local public services. At that time, the government had ignored the results of the referendum of 12 and 13 June 2011 in which Italians had rejected privatisation. The ruling also blocks all subsequent amendments, including those of the Monti government.

Thousands demand action to end HIV/AIDS

27 July 2012

Thousands took to the streets on 24 July in Washington, DC to demand government action to end HIV/AIDS. A huge contingent of AIDS community activists, nurses and other workers marched in Robin Hood hats to call attention to the need for a new tax on sales of bonds, derivatives, currencies and other financial products.

Tags: 
Health
Quality public services
HIV/AIDS

Unions speak up at AIDS 2012

27 July 2012

In conjunction with the 2012 International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) held in Washington, DC, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the AFL-CIO hosted a one-day forum July 21 on unions’ role in combating HIV/AIDS, with a particular focus on improving social protection and raising awareness among youth and young workers. PSI representatives participated in this event in connection with our Quality Public Services-Action Now! campaign.

Tags: 
Health
Quality public services
HIV/AIDS

Robin Hood Campaign to join AIDS mobilization

22 July 2012

Public Services International – advocating for fair taxation to fund public services such as health care – will be represented as part of our Quality Public Services—Action Now! campaign along with other Robin Hood Tax supporters in a high profile AIDS mobilisation in Washington DC, Tuesday 23 July.

Tags: 
Health
Public Funding/Taxation
Quality public services
HIV/AIDS

European Unions will march with Spanish workers against cuts!

18 July 2012

On 18th July PSI's European branch the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) will be side to side with Spanish public sector workers and citizens in the mass demonstrations that will take place all over Spain and also in Brussels.

Rio+20 Working for a sustainable world

16 July 2012
Four people with Robin Hood Tax hats and posters

Download the report (PDF, 1 MB)

See more photos on flickr

Watch the video

Public Services International engaged in a number of activities at Rio:

Working in the people's interest

11 July 2012
PSI logo

Working in the people’s interest

Advancing social justice through quality public services and trade union rights

Public Services International 29th World Congress in Durban, South Africa, 27-30 November 2012

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.