Privatisation

The website of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has no mention of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on which officials from 16 countries, including India, met for a round of secret trade talks in Brunei from 15-19 February. This mega Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to be concluded by the end of 2016.

In 2016, we should honour the February Strike, not just because those who took action were later tortured and even executed. Rather, we must ask ourselves, as trade unions, as members of the labour movement: what are we doing? Are we ready to take the risks necessary to confront the austerity-fueled resurgence of racism and national chauvinism across Europe and other parts of the world?

Members from different social organizations and trade unions came out on February 4 to the streets to protest against the TPPA, signed at the same day in New Zealand by 12 countries, including Chile, Mexico, Peru, United States and Canada.

Wednesday 20 January 2016, Ghanaian workers, mostly public sector workers and members of PSI’s 8 affiliates in the country, took to the streets along with other civil society groups to protest the recent massive increases in utility tariffs calling on the government to withdraw the Energy Sector Levies Act 899 of 2015 with immediate effect.

Fifty students held a two-hour occupation of the central administration offices at the University of California, Berkeley on 3 December to demand living wages and benefits for workers employed by private contractors on campus. Police arrested 22 of the students who were charged with misdemeanor offenses.

At Nashua in the state of New Hampshire, USA, in September 2015, the Board of Education voted 7-1 to end its contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents the Nashua custodial workers (janitors). The board said they are looking to hire a private cleaning company instead.

Gaurav Dwivedi, a water expert from Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, has prepared an overview of water sector reforms in India. Manthan Adhyayan Kendra is a centre set up to research, analyse and monitor water and energy issues from the perspective of just, equitable and sustainable development.