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Trade union rights news

All work has dignity, and all workers deserve to be treated with respect by their employers. Trade unions play a decisive role in improving working conditions, safety and wages – yet some governments and employers systematically abuse the right of workers to join existing unions or form new ones. PSI works actively to support the right of workers to free collective bargaining, and to help stop abuses when they occur.

South Africa: NUPSAW and DIS-CHEM Pharmacies reach agreement to end workers’ strike

02 February 2018

After a week of strike action, the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW), a PSI affiliate, and Dis-Chem Pharmacies have reached a settlement agreement regarding the granting of organisational rights to the Union.

Strike in France: In Defence of Quality Elderly Care

01 February 2018

Social workers delivering home care, including in Housing Facilities for the Dependent Elderly (EHPAD) across France embarked on a 1-day strike on 30 January. This was to draw attention to several pressing problems confronting elderly care, which the authorities have failed to address.

Take Action: Call for the release of Han Sang Gyun

29 January 2018

PSI is calling on all affiliates to join the renewed joint ITUC and GUF international campaign calling for the release of Han Sang-gyun and the withdrawal of the charges against Lee Young-joo, respectively former President and General Secretary of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU).

Send a letter of protest to President Moon and join the Day of Action on 9 February 2018.

Algeria: New government attack on independent energy union (update)

26 January 2018

The government of Algeria is escalating its war on the independent union of electricity and gas workers SNATEGS, which organizes workers at the state energy company SONELGAZ.
SNATEGS lives and fights, and needs your support. ActNOW! Join the LabourStart campaign, send a message of protest!

Imminent nationwide strike in Togo as health workers demand government to address healthcare challenges

25 January 2018

Health workers in Togo have, for the second time in January 2018, gone on a sit-down strike to further mount pressure on the government to come to the discussion table with them to deliberate on issues affecting proper healthcare provision in the country.

TOGO: Health Workers On Sit-Down Strike To Mount Pressure on Government to Improve Health Provisions

08 January 2018

A sit-down strike action by doctors and hospital practitioners of health centers and public hospitals in Togo has come into force to press home demands for the government to improve living and working conditions in the health sector.

Miguel Ángel Mejía: “Since 2009, workers' rights have been decimated in Honduras”

08 December 2017

In an interview for PSI, the president of the Union of Medical, Hospital and Similar Workers (Sitramedhys) talks about the situation in the Central American country after suspicions of electoral fraud. “Our perspectives for the future, once the will of the government is imposed, are not very encouraging”.

Turkey: Court releases human rights activists

26 October 2017
Taner Kiliç - photo: Amnesty International UK

Court in Istanbul will release Director of Amnesty Turkey, İdil Eser, and other activists who were arrested in July. Campaigners will press for the release of Amnesty Turkey's Chair, Taner Kılıç (pictured), whose separate trial begins on 27 October.

Swaziland – public workers to march for fair salary increase

23 October 2017

Public Services International sends its solidarity and support to its affiliates and all public sector workers in Swaziland. The workers were surprised and angered by a pay rise for government officials while their own claim for a salary was refused.

Union victory for operating theatre nursing assistants

19 October 2017
HUG hospital building

Four months ago, the Geneva University Hospitals, HUG (Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève) took a unilateral decision to increase daily working time of operating theatre nursing assistants from 8 hours to 10 hours. With the support of their trade union SSP, the workers mobilised against the management decision and in November they will return to their usual 8-hour day.

Public administration workers of the Spanish foreign service go on strike on 16 October: 9-year wage freeze must end now!

16 October 2017

For the last nine years, public administration employees working abroad for the Spanish state have suffered an unjust and arbitrary wage freeze. Precarious working conditions and, in many countries, rampant inflation and strong fluctuations of local currencies have further compounded the issue.

Parliamentary committee supports demands of health workers' union of ukraine

29 September 2017

The Health Committee of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine reviewed the appeal of PSI affiliate, the Health Workers’ Union of Ukraine, to assist in meeting the healthcare workers’ demands towards public authorities made at the All-Ukrainian Protest on 19 September.

Colombia: trade union leader faces arbitrary sanction

21 September 2017

PSI is calling on all affiliates to join the LabourStart campaign in support of Carlos E. Castañeda Ravelo who is facing a new arbitrary sanction for exercising the right to freedom of association.

Healthcare workers’ mass protest in Kiev: no to destruction of Ukrainian healthcare

20 September 2017

On 19 September, healthcare workers organised a mass protest in Kiev in which more than 1,500 people took part. Among their basic demands are the increase in healthcare subvention of almost 4 billion UAH, higher wages and payment of arrears, and reform of the healthcare system in compliance with the Constitution and legislation. The trade unions also want their voice to be heard.

Major breakthrough for public workers’ rights: Philippines ratifies ILO Convention 151

19 September 2017
The trade union delegation

On 14 August, PSI affiliates and other public sector unions in the Philippines made history. After a seven-year-old battle, the Senate of the Philippines finally concurred with the ratification the ILO Convention concerning Protection of the Right to Organise and Procedures for Determining Conditions of Employment in the Public Service (No. 151), becoming the first country in Asia to do so.

Ecuador: 3,000 public employees unfairly dismissed

05 December 2011

Several thousand public servants, mainly in the health and public administration sectors were recently arbitrarily dismissed leaving Ecuador’s health and central administration services in disarray. Many of those dismissed are members of PSI’s affiliates.

PSI Congress Resolutions

12 March 2013

Resolutions adopted at the 29th World Congress of Public Services International, held in Durban, South Africa, 27-30 November 2012. The resolutions are available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish, Japanese and Russian.

No compromise on women’s rights Zero tolerance for violence against women and girls

19 February 2013

Together with other civil society partners, trade unions develop, implement and promote strategies aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls. This joint global union statement will be presented to the UNCSW57. For more information: http://unioncsw.world-psi.org

Emergency Resolution on basic labour rights of public service workers in Japan

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012, adopted the

Resolution 15: Against impunity in Guatemala

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012 

Resolution 39: Swaziland

30 November 2012

 The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Resolution 47: Global Trade Union Unity

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Resolution 19 : Defending and Protecting Labour Rights

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI),
meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Resolution 18: Support for global campaign for rights at Deutsche Telekom

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Resolution 20 : Violation of trade union rights by the government of Guyana

30 November 2012

 The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI),
meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Emergency resolution on Tunisia

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012, adopted the following emergency resolution

Emergency Resolution on the Democratic Republic of Congo

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012, adopted the following emergency resolution

Resolution 45: The struggle of the Ngöbe-Buglé people of Panama

30 November 2012

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI),

Resolution 49: Palestine and the Middle East

30 November 2012

 (Composite resolution based on Draft Resolutions No. 40, No. 41, No. 43
and the Amendment No. 15 to Resolution No. 40)

Impact of the economic crisis and austerity measures on women

04 July 2012

Women are losing jobs in both the private and public sectors, which has an immediate effect on household income but a much longer term effect on the role of women in the labour force.

Annual Report 2010

05 April 2011

In the face of widening cuts to public services and attacks on the rights of public sector workers around the world, leaders of private and public sector trade unions, municipal governments and civil society groups made the unprecedented joint commitment to work together to promote investment in quality public services backed by fair taxation policies as the key solution to the economic crisis, and the best way to build peaceful, equitable, democratic and environmentally-sustainable societies.