Water and sanitation

Clean water and sanitation – recently recognised by the United Nations as basic human rights – are critical to good health. They help prevent disease. Yet billions of people have no ready access to safe water. It is an essential service that governments must provide to protect their citizens and serve their common good. Read more here

Green jobs and privatization don't mix

May23

For the first time, the agenda of next International Labour Conference (Geneva, 5-20 June, 2013) includes a General Discussion on “Sustainable Development, Decent Work and Green Jobs”.

Water is a Human Right petition reaches 1.5 million signatures

May15
Water is a human right logo

After reaching 1 million signatures in February, the first European Citizens' Initiative has now reached an astounding 1.5 million signatures. Eight countries have achieved the EU minimum, several of them have exceeded the minimum number by far.

PSI affiliate in solidarity with sister union in Colombia

May14
CUPE delegates raise money for work with union in Colombia

CUPE members from across Newfoundland and Labrador headed home on 8 May as their annual convention wrapped in Grand Falls-Windsor, but not before raising almost $11,000 for a sister union in Central America.

Pages

Implementing the Right to Water in the green economy

Mar21
Demonstration at the alternative water forum

Water Justice activists, including PSI unions, have successfully pushed the human right to water and sanitation (RTW) onto the global agenda. The UN General Assembly Resolution 64/292 of 2010 has set the standard for government obligations in ensuring universal access. Many national campaigns insist that governments adopt RTW and implement universal access to water and sanitation. Unions are working with a broad range of allies at global, regional, national and local levels.

It’s a matter of democracy – Vote to block water privatisation

Jun12

Public Services International requests urgent assistance from unions and NGOs to help overturn plans for water privatisation in Italy. We ask trade unions in specific countries and cities to spread this message encouraging expatriate Italians to vote in Italy’s upcoming referendum.

Water, electricity and the political context in Arab countries 2011

Apr11

This report examines the electricity and water sectors in North African and Middle Eastern countries, including the record of privatisations, and the potential implications of the democracy movements, and the response of international institutions, as of September 2011.

Remunicipalisation: Putting water back into public hands

Mar19
Remunicipalisation: Putting water back into public hands

After decades of failed water privatisation, cities like Paris are starting to bring water back into public hands. Download this free 'must-read' book for policy makers and activists looking to democratise water services. This publication was produced by Transnational Institute (TNI), Municipal Services Projects (MSP) and Corporate Europe Observatory(CEO).

Privatising Europe - Using the crisis to entrench neoliberalism

Mar18
Privatising Europe - Using the crisis to entrench neoliberalism

The Transnational Institute (TNI) has produced this working paper and infographic that provides an overview of what can best be described as a great ‘fire sale’ of public services and national assets across Europe that is providing profits for a few transnational companies but is often fiercely opposed by its citizens.

Pages

PSI’s 29th World Congress in Durban, South Africa, 27-30 November 2012

Nov22

As part of its World Congress events, PSI is holding a series of pre-congress meetings on key issues.

6th World Water Forum and Alternative Water Forum

Mar08
Alternative water forum logo

Unions from 30 countries will gather in Marseille, France to express loud and clear their concerns about water policies.  The occasion is the triennial World Water Forum –WWF6, a corporate tradeshow which masquerades as a global policy arena.  The water forum was the brainchild of the French multinational corporations Veolia and Suez, in cahoots with the World Bank, created back when privatisation was the only solution for getting water to poor people in developing countries.  Now, the gloss is off the rose, and only the sharp spines are left.

The PSI messages at WWF6 include:

Pages

Putting Water Back into Public Hands - Remunicipalisation

Mar 18

An inspiring video animation about how cities are reversing water privatisation to regain public control.

Investing in disaster preparedness, response and recovery

Mar05
People being rescued from flooding in a boat

THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013

Panel discussion 6:30-9:30pm

32BJ SEIU - 25 West 18th Street

5th Floor Conference Room

(between 5th & 6th Aves) New York, NY

Pages