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Europe

PSI is represented in Europe by the European Federation of Public Service Unions, based in Brussels. For more on our activities in this region, please see the EPSU website

You can also view a list of European affiliates or contact European regional offices

PCS supports series of strikes over Ealing tax office closure

19 March 2019

As members of UK PSI affiliate Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working at HM Revenue and Customs walk out of the closure-threatened Ealing office at noon on 20 March, PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka will join them on the picket line.

Addressing the human rights implications of privatization for women and girls

14 March 2019
This interactive side event to #CSW63, jointly organised by PSI, FEMNET and APWLD and opened by UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Philip Alston, focused with a human rights-based perspective on the privatization of public services.

There Can Be No Gender Equality Without Quality Public Services

11 March 2019

In an Op-ed published around the world, Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, writes about gender responsive quality public services and how women and girls are also the most impacted when countries offer poor basic facilities. Women´s access to social protection, gender-responsive quality public services and infrastructure is a priority of the international community and the main theme of UNCSW63, in which PSI is participating as part of the global union delegation.

A Quantum Leap for Gender Equality: For a Better Future of Work for All

11 March 2019

This new ILO report highlights key gender gaps and obstacles to decent work for women.

8 March - Women’s struggles need to be more bold and radical than ever

07 March 2019

Women’s Day is not a moment to celebrate the feminine. It is a day for political upheaval. Only by placing women’s struggles at the heart of labour action can we achieve the meaningful progress which generations of women have fought for. Read the PSI statement here.

This International Women’s Day, let’s call time on gender-based violence

07 March 2019

Gender-based violence blights the lives of millions of women. It excludes women from the world of work and often stigmatises them within their communities. Read the ITUC statement here.

EDF unions and management have training on implementing human and labour rights

27 February 2019

Eight months on from the signature of the renewal of the Global Framework Agreement (GFA) of EDF Group, over 25 trade union and management representatives came together on 19-20 February at the ILO International Training Centre in Turin to hone their skills to enable its implementation.

Take action: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women - 25 November 2013

21 November 2013
PSI violence against women poster

PSI is calling on all its affiliate members, men and women, to make a pledge to end violence against women and girls, at each of their workplaces around the globe.
Violence against women is an age-old problem – it is time to end it now.

Stick with it! We want a Financial Transaction Tax now!

15 November 2013
Financial transaction tax now! logo

For many years, the coalition of “Europeans For Financial Reform” has been campaigning for the introduction of a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) in Europe as a first but essential step towards an international FTT. This year, 11 EU-Member States agreed to implement the FTT based on a proposal from the European Commission. Since then, the financial lobby has been pressing hard to postpone the introduction of the FTT and to carve out all sorts of exemptions. The coalition calls on all our supporters to remind the governments of these 11 countries not to give in to lobbying and to stick with their promises! We want the Financial Transaction Tax now!

UN derecognizes staff unions, refuses to negotiate

12 November 2013

PSI urges all trade unionists to call on your UN Member States and Foreign Ministers and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to respect the rights of workers and immediately resume bargaining.

Join the LabourStart campaign send a letter of protest now

Letter to Thessaloniki water bidders

01 July 2013
water drop

Please support the letter to the investors and companies that wish to partake in the privatisation of the water company of Thessaloniki. We ask them to withdraw their bid as they are not wanted in Thessaloniki.

Russia: A power engineer must not be poor

18 February 2013
November demonstrations in Moscow

Russian energy workers are in discussion with their employers concerning wages and working conditions. They request that PSI and its affiliates send messages of support and solidarity.

PSI deeply concerned about Russia's situation in the World Trade Organisation

04 June 2012
Kreml

After 18 years of negotiations behind closed doors, Russia is expected to ratify and sign the WTO accession in July. PSI expresses deep concern about Russia's situation. In many countries the experience of members joining the WTO is narrowed access to public services, including through privatization, job losses, and deterioration of infrastructure and skills.

15 public sector trade unionists have been arrested in Turkey

16 February 2012
MayDay 2010 - Turkey

On 13 February 2012, 15 women union leaders and activists belonging to PSI and EPSU affiliates SES (Trade Union of Public Employees in Health and Social Services), Tüm Bel Sen (Union of All Municipality Civil Servants) and BES (Trade Union of Public Administration Employees); as well as to Education International (EI) affiliate Egitim Sen and to the Confederation of Civil Servants Trade Unions, KESK, (affiliated to the ITUC), were arrested and dragged from their homes in early morning raids. The police also invaded the unions’ head offices as part of a so-called police investigation.

No to Austerity!

19 November 2011

Public services and public service workers are under pressure in almost all European countries with austerity measures affecting EPSU members directly. Collective bargaining, the autonomy of the social partners and social dialogue are under attack in many countries in the Euro-zone, in the EU and in other European countries.

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

12 June 2011

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.

PSIRU releases brief on "categorical errors on water renationalisation"

06 June 2017

This PSIRU Brief, written by Emanuele Lobina, discusses some of the categorical errors mainstream economists make in predicting the outcome of water renationalisation. It argues that these errors are due to the misrepresentation of the ethos and motivation of the public and private sectors.

Renationalisation is needed to tackle water poverty

23 May 2017

This PSIRU Brief, written by Emanuele Lobina, shows that water privatisation in England and Wales has led to a concerning increase in water poverty, and that economic regulator Ofwat is part of the problem. It argues that renationalisation is needed to tackle water poverty.

Presentations: PSI/ILO Health Campaign Meeting

22 May 2017

The presentations below were made at the PSI/ILO Health Campaign Meeting held 15-16 May in Dushambe, Tajikistan. The meeting served to strengthen PSI health and social services strategy, to collect views and develop a consensus on the actions that affiliates and PSI will pursue with regard to the major issues identified for the sector.

Manifesto of the PSI Human Right to Health Global Campaign

13 April 2017

A better Future with Public Health for All: PSI's global campaign for the Human Right to Health aims at building a mass global movement that could influence concrete policies towards attaining Universal Public Health Coverage (UPHC).

Global Unions Statement: Support the inclusion and retention of the full and substantive role of the ILO in the UNCSW61 Agreed Conclusions

22 March 2017

Member states at the annual Sessions of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) are currently negotiating ‘Agreed Conclusions’ on this year’s priority theme: ‘Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work’.

Zero Fees in the Recruitment Process

14 February 2017

What are recruitment fees and why should they be scrapped? Join PSIs' campaign for fair and ethical recruitment. www.world-psi.org/NRF -- #NoRecruitmentFees.

Health Ministerial Meeting: Joint trade union statement

13 January 2017

The Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC) and the Public Services International (PSI) have prepared a joint statement prior to the OECD Health Ministerial Meeting taking place in Paris on 17 January where Ministers from over 35 OECD and partner countries will exchange their ideas, ambitions and challenges for The Next Generation of Health Reforms.

PSI briefing: The Future of Health

13 January 2017

PSI has commissioned a new briefing entitled “The Future of Health: Person Centred Care in Policy and Practice”, by Kate Baylis, SOAS, University of London.

Banners: A better future with public health for all

12 December 2016

The banners "A better future with public health for all" - size 700x430 and size 800x800 - are available for download in English, French and Spanish (jpg format).

Posters: A better future with public health for all

12 December 2016

The posters "A better future with public health for all" are available for download in English, French and Spanish.

Multi-sectoral guidelines to tackle third-party violence and harassment related to work

28 November 2016

The aim of the Guidelines is to ensure that that each workplace has a results oriented policy which addresses the issue of third-party violence. The Guidelines set out the practical steps that can be taken by employers, workers and their representatives /trade unions to reduce, prevent and mitigate problems. The steps reflect the best practices developed in our sectors and they can be complemented by more specific and/or additional measures.

Posters: Int'l Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

17 November 2016

Trade unions are struggling to end violence at the workplace and in society. In all countries, we need a strong commitment from governments to address the deeply rooted causes of violence against women: inequality and discrimination. Download PSI's posters for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Ten key points for Fair Cities and an inclusive New Urban Agenda

16 November 2016

The 10 key points on the following pages represent PSI’s priorities for a New Urban Agenda encompassing decent work for city workers – including public workers - universal access and adequate public investment in essential public services, such as water and sanitation, energy, health care, transportation, education, social housing, public space etc.

PSI supports the release of ICRICT's second declaration

16 November 2016

"Four Ways to Tackle International Tax Competition" was launched on 15 November in Brussels by the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT).

Policy brief EB-148 : PSI Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Intervention Strategy

06 October 2016

This policy brief on the PSI Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Intervention Strategy was produced for the PSI Executive Board EB-148 held at the ILO in Geneva (Switzerland) on 19-20 May 2016. Its objective is to inform EB-148 of related work and activities. The brief is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese.

Event: The Role of Public Service Trade Unions in achieving Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities

07 November 2016

Achieving Decent Work for All, and realising the Sustainable Development Goals, requires focussed work to include persons with disabilities. This PSI meeting, with the support of ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) and the Gender, Equality and Diversity branch (GED), is an opportunity to develop knowledge, awareness and advocacy relevant for a range of actors in their governance, actions and aims.

PSI 30th World Congress

25 October 2016

PSI’s 30th World Congress will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from Monday 30th October to Friday 3 November 2017, at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG).

PSI at the Open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights

24 October 2016

From 24 to 28 October 2016, Public Services International, together with Governments, regional and political groups, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, NGOs and many other relevant stakeholders, will be participating in the 2nd public meetings of the Open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights (OEIWG), which could lead to the adoption of an international legally binding instrument on transnational corporations (TNCs or MNEs).

Culmination Conference of the PSI Project on Decent Work and Social Protection for Migrant Workers in the Public Services (Philippines)

06 October 2016

The PSI Project on Decent Work and Social Protection for Migrant Workers in the Public Services, is a three-year project (2014-2016) which aims to promote access to decent work and social protection for migrant workers in the public services. This conference will launch key campaigns of the project, culminate the work over the last three years, and pave the way to the future work of the PSI on migration and refugee issues.

International Conference: Free trade and the right to (not) migrate (Brussels)

27 September 2016

The Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung is organising a Conference on Free Trade and the Right to (Not) Migrate on 29 September – 1 October in Brussels. PSI Migration Programme Coordinator, Genevieve Gencianos, is speaking in a panel on “Lessons for the future: 21st Trade Agenda, TTIP and Migration” on 30 September between 16h30 and 19h.

How unpaid internships undermine human rights

22 September 2016
unpaid internships

This event "How unpaid internships undermine human rights", taking place in Geneva on 27 September, is co-organized by the Fair Internship Initiative (FII), Public Services International and the "We Pay Our Interns" coalition representatives. On the sidelines of the Human Rights Council, Unions, NGOs and youth activists come together to highlight the urgent need for international organisations and governments to tackle the issue of unpaid internships, both in the wider economy and within their own halls.

ILO Tripartite Technical Meeting on Recruitment

06 September 2016
ILO TTM on refugees

The Tripartite Meeting of Experts to Develop Guidance on Fair Recruitment is being held at the ILO in Geneva on 5-7 September. The objective is to adopt ILO guidelines on fair recruitment, encompassing both cross-border and national recruitment. PSI Migration Programme Coordinator, Genevieve Gencianos, delivered a speech on 5 September at the opening session of the meeting.

UNCSW60: Commission on the Status of Women

13 March 2016
Photo: CTF - FCE/Flickr

The sixtieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 14 to 24 March 2016.

Public services welcoming migrants

05 February 2016

PSI, EPSU & ETUI are organising a seminar on “Public Services Welcoming Migrants: Strengthening the role of public service trade unions in the protection of human rights and delivery of public services to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees”

ILO Tripartite meeting on the Right to Strike

20 February 2015

The Meeting will bring together participants from 32 Governments of ILO member States, 16 Employer participants and 16 Worker participants nominated by the Employers’ group and the Workers’ group of the Governing Body respectively, as well as observers from the three groups.

Challenging liberalisation of public services in TTIP and beyond

12 January 2015

EPSU, ETUCE, AK and ÖGB are organising a joint training seminar on trade policy. The focus of the training will be on TTIP, CETA and TiSA with the objective of understanding the problems TTIP, CETA and TiSA pose for public services, in particular in education and health / social services.

CSW59: Commission on the Status of Women

10 December 2014

The 59th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59) will take place at the UN Headquarters, in New York, from 9th to 20th March 2015.

PSI Global Trade in Services forum

17 October 2014

PSI’s Global Trade in Services Forum, From GATS to TISA, held in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and the Our World Is Not For Sale (OWINFS) network, is the first ever global conference to provide a critical perspective on the TISA.

It will bring together leading global experts, trade unions from the public and private sector, civil society and government representatives from around the world to share information about the TISA. They will discuss the threats posed to public services, democracy and workers, and plan action to oppose its harmful elements.

Power to the People: A Strategy Discussion on Advancing Social Ownership of Energy

11 September 2014

PSI General Secretary, Rosa Pavanelli, with representatives of PSI affiliates will be taking part in a strategic discussion on advancing social ownership of energy organised by the Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) on 20 September 2014 in New York. The TUED delegation will join in the People's Climate March on 21 September 2014.

Video: From GATS to TISA: Corporate power, inequality and the new attacks on public services

17 September 2014

Listen to Deborah James', Director of International Programs Centre for Economic and Policy Research, analysis of the results of 30 years of liberalization and how the new wave of trade agreements limit the role of government and deepen corporate power.

Audio: Globe Trade Agreements for Corporations

04 September 2014

RadioLabour has prepared a special report on the global trade agreements: What they are and how they will affect working people.

Video: The fightback against austerity

07 July 2014

Public Services International (PSI), the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), together with our affiliate unions, ADEDY, and allies in Greece brought together a team of expert union journalists and communicators. This solidarity exchange enabled PSI communicators from other countries to learn more about the issues facing Greek trade unionists and share this understanding with their union members and communities around the world.

Video: Trade agreements and the threat to quality public services

24 June 2014

Sanya Reid Smith - Third World Network, Guest speaker at PSI's Executive Board meeting in Nyon, Switzerland 24-25 June 2014.

Video: Route of Shame 2014

12 June 2014

Public Services International and trade union leaders from around the world joined in Geneva for the "Route of Shame" on 4th June 2014, calling for the right to strike for all workers and shaming countries where workers' and trade union rights are violated. Quality public services and social justice are key to achieving equality, equity and dignity. On the same day, PSI affiliates in Guatemala, Panama, Buenos Aires, Lima, Santiago de Chile, Paraguay, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Tokyo and Seoul also organized "Route of Shame" actions. International solidarity makes us stronger!

Photos: Route of Shame 2014 - Geneva

11 June 2014

The Route of Shame is a solidarity action organized by Public Services International, calling for the right to strike and shaming countries that violate workers' rights. On 4th June 2014, the second edition of The Route of Shame brought together trade unionists from all over the world and all sectors in Geneva and in Guatemala, Buenos Aires, Paraguay, Sao Paolo, Panama,Tokyo, Indonesia, Santiago de Chile, Lima and other cities (more updates soon).

Video: Hero Dad (STTK - Finland)

27 May 2014

A video by the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees STTK which encourages young fathers to use their right for longer paternity leave.

Why unions must stop the new free trade deals

22 May 2014

Watch this short video of Nick Crook, International Officer with PSI affiliate UNISON (UK), who gives specific examples of the threats the TTIP and TISA trade deals pose to public services. Recorded 21 May 2014 at the EPSU Congress in Toulouse, France.

Photos: Anti-TISA demonstration in Geneva

06 May 2014

On 28 April 2014, Public Services International, together with Swiss trade unions and civil society organisations, held a demonstration in front of the Australian mission in Geneva. The Australian mission was the venue of the secret negotiations for the TISA (Trade in Services Agreement) which governments are pushing and which will make it easier for big multinational companies to take over vital public services, such as health care and education, which you and your family rely on. For more information: see our web pages

Audio: RadioLabour report on global day of action TISA

06 May 2014

A report by C. Marie Ainsborough, Senior Labour Reporter with Radio Labour, reports on the preparations for the global day of action on 28th April in protest of the TISA negotiations. See our web page for more information.

Video: Global Labor Unions Step Up the Fight for Women's Empowerment

21 March 2014

To achieve gender equality and empower women around the world, leaders are increasingly looking to history's pioneers of progress and social inclusion: Labor Unions.

Video: Something's up with the water

04 March 2014

New advertising campaign taps into public support to keep water as a public good

Audio: A special RadioLabour report on migrant workers and their families

07 January 2014

There are 232 million migrants in the world. Many are living and working in horrible conditions. A special RadioLabour report on migrant workers and their families. The report features interviews with two international labour movement activists: Chidi King of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Genevieve Gencianos of Public Services International (PSI).

Video: Greek journalists occupy public broadcast stations

06 January 2014

Members of the PSI-EPSU Communicators' Action Network, an expert team of international labour journalists, recorded the last inside interviews with workers occupying Greek public broadcast stations, before the government violently raided and evicted the workers in early November 2013.

Video: Austerity measures deny Greeks democracy

06 January 2014

Greece, known as the birthplace of democracy, has been reeling under the impact of punishing austerity measures imposed by the ‘Troika’ (IMF, European Commission and European Central Bank) over the past five years. Deep cuts to the public sector have left wages low and unemployment high for all working people.