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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.

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.

Massive Open Online Course on Fair Wage Strategies in a Global Economy

07 September 2017

The Global Labour University Online Academy on https://glu.iversity.org/ is pioneering cross-country online education for trade unionists, researchers and experts from the world of work. This course on Fair Wage Strategies in a Global Economy offers global networking, theory and practical skills for trade unionists on the economics of wages, collective bargaining, minimum wages and strategies to achieve fair wages.

Trade union movement rejects Turkey as a venue for the ILO European Regional Meeting

18 August 2017

Many trade unions have already clearly stated that they will not participate in the ILO European Regional Meeting in Istanbul in 2-5 October this year due to the worsening situation regarding freedom of speech and violation of fundamental labour and human rights in Turkey.

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.

Annual Report 2009

03 April 2010

Environmental and social sustainability provided the primary theme for PSI’s work in 2009. Leading into the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen in December, trade unions and civil society allies worked hard to ensure that world leaders would agree on an ambitious plan to reduce carbon emissions. Alas, this dream did not become reality. But we are committed to continuing this struggle and achieving real results.

Annual Report 2008

03 April 2009

Looking back at 2008 the one word that comes to mind is CHANGE. We saw a dramatic change in the global economy, it was the keyword in the US election and we initiated changes in PSI.