Trade union development

Free and democratic trade unions are built on solidarity – people working together for improvements in the workplace and the community. Through PSI, unions around the world work together to support each other. Established unions share their knowledge and experience with unions that have fewer resources. This assistance ranges from help with developing tools to serve members, to resource and education materials, to international support in upholding members’ rights.

A tale of two unions: How public sector unions helped to unleash a surge of democratic reform in Egypt

Mar15
President of RETA during protest demanding a raise in Egypt's minimum wage, April 2010, photo by Hossam el-Hamalawy

During 2011, two independent unions in Egypt affiliated to PSI began participating in the activities of the PSI project “Campaigning for workers’ rights in Arab Countries” which took place between 2009 and 2011. Through this project, supported by affiliate IMPACT (of Ireland) in collaboration with FNV Mondiaal (a trade union solidarity support organisation from the Netherlands), PSI has been able to play a concrete role in affirming the emergence of a democratic and independent public sector labour movement in Egypt.

Decent work for youth and nothing less! Southern Cone Youth Committees begin to mature

Mar10
PSI National Youth Committee of Chile, Santiago, 2012

The PSI /IMPACT-sponsored project “Young workers in southern cone: from a project to a union policy”, which took place from 2011-2013, helped to strengthen PSI Regional and National Youth Committees in numbers and representation.

Gender equality and equity: Flowing into the heart of Brazil’s unions

Mar01
PSI women’s coordination committee in Brazil - September 2012

The IMPACT/PSI project “Promoting pay equity in the public sector” ran from 2010-2012 covering all 27 of PSI’s affiliates in Brazil. Thanks to the project, sector-based national training workshops took place and participants developed action plans to take back to their unions. Enlarged PSI Women’s Committee meetings were held and a dedicated Facebook group set up. Gender equality became a prominent feature of many national conferences for PSI affiliates.

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PSI Solidarity message to Egyptian trade unions

Sep10
Tahir square February 2011

PSI sends solidarity message to Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions - EFITU.

Public sector unions combating HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa

Mar11

Public Services International and UNISON, UK, held a three-year joint project in South Africa from 2008-2011. The project, to strengthen public sector trade union response to HIV and AIDS engaged 34 PSI affiliates in 11 countries in good practice sharing and implementation.

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Health
Trade union development
HIV/AIDS

In the People's Interest

Feb25
In the people's Interest

A survey of achievements on IMPACT/PSI trade union development cooperation between 2008 and 2013.

IMPACT has supported PSI projects for many years through the Developing World fund, contributing to PSI trade union development and solidarity work in areas such as education, health and community development.

Philippines: Comparative study of collective bargaining

Aug30

PSI trade union rights project has launched a comparative analysis of selected collective labor negotiation-management agreement in the Philippines public services.

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Rosa Pavanelli elected to lead Public Services International

Nov28

Italian trade unionist Rosa Pavanelli has been elected as the new leader of the global union federation Public Services International, representing 20 million public service workers in 150 countries. Pavanelli says her vision is founded on “giving PSI new energy, and standing up for justice, solidarity, equality, a fairer and more sustainable world.”

The leadership vote took place during PSI’s 29th World Congress in Durban, South Africa (27-30 November 2012). Danish trade unionist Peter Waldorff had sought re-election as general secretary following one term in office.