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No Trade in Public Services

The recent wave of trade agreements are direct threats to the provision of Quality Public Services. These new agreements encourage privatisation, restrict governments’ ability to regulate in the public interest and create new and powerful rights for large multinational corporations. They are also a threat to democracy and accountability of government. They are being negotiated in secret, without proper consultation and will bind future governments, often regardless of the decisions of national elections, parliaments and courts. PSI urges all affiliates to understand the implications and join our allies to oppose the harmful effects of these agreements.

"When everything is a service, a Trade in Services Agreement affects everyone," says new IUF Report

26 February 2018

A new report release today by the The International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF) highlights the Global Union movement's mounting opposition to the TiSA trade deal.

Free trade or women's rights?

12 January 2018

After 30 years of neoliberal globalization, it has been increasingly acknowledged that austerity, privatization, deregulation of finance, markets and corporations, and trade and investment liberalization have had a devastating and discriminatory impact on women and have driven inequality. Recent large multilateral agreements, designed primarily to enable the unhindered flow of global capital, are significant barriers to the realization of the human rights of women.

A victory for the peoples of the world: the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference ends without agreements

14 December 2017

With decisive role of social movements from around the world, meeting in Buenos Aires failed to reach consensus that would benefit the transnationals and harm the world population, especially the poorest.

Women’s Rights Organizations call on Governments to Reject the WTO Declaration on “Women’s Economic Empowerment”

12 December 2017

According to the signatories of the letter, including PSI, the declaration “fails to address the adverse impact of WTO rules and instead appears to be designed to mask the failures of the WTO and its role in deepening inequality and exploitation”.

Civil society organizations protest against WTO Ministerial Conference

11 December 2017

PSI was one of the organizations that drove the action. According to Jocelio Drummond, Regional Secretary of PSI Inter-America, "the main struggle is to prevent the WTO from expanding its area of action on new issues, for example, electronic commerce".

Argentinian government has revoked union and civil society participation in WTO meeting

05 December 2017

In an unprecedented action, the Argentinian government has revoked the accreditation for union and civil society representatives to the 11th Ministerial Meeting of the WTO in Buenos Aires, advising the WTO that the experts will not be allowed into the country. PSI does not accept such a blatant violation of well-established international norms and calls on the President of Argentina and the WTO Director-General to take immediate action.

PSI promoting social dialogue through the Global Deal

23 November 2017
Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven

PSI has recently joined the Global Deal as part of its commitment to promoting social dialogue as a means for tackling inequality, ensuring workers’ rights and creating the foundations for peace and stability.

Workers call on governments to defend the public interest and reject RCEP

25 September 2017

In a statement released on the occasion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Ministerial Council held in Manila on 10 September, PSI and its allies called for governments in the region to defend the public Interest and reject RCEP.

Trump and NAFTA “modernization”

16 August 2017

The ensuing trade deficits and manufacturing job losses cast a shadow over this trade deal and led all three major candidates for the U.S. presidency in 2016 to reject the TPP and promise to “fix” NAFTA. Trump is following through on his promise, but that is not the whole story.

PSI Joins Rally Questioning Mega Trade Deal RCEP

27 July 2017
Photo: Benny Kuruvilla

Hundreds marched in the streets of Hyderabad on 24 July 2017 in opposition to the 19th round of negotiations of the mega 16 nation Free Trade Agreement (FTA) called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Unions and citizens together can reclaim public services and fight RCEP

22 July 2017

As part of the activities of the Peoples' Summit against Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (July 22-26), PSI co-organised a one-day workshop on ‘RCEP and the Corporate Attack on Public Services’, held on 25 July, at the Sudarayya Vignana Kendram (SVK) in Hyderabad, the venue of the 19th Round of RCEP trade negotiations.

Trade Unions Question the Asian Mega Free Trade deal RCEP

11 July 2017

On Saturday 8 July, more than 40 representatives of trade unions encompassing a wide range of sectors in manufacturing, services and the informal economy met in Hyderabad to take a view on the implications for workers of the negotiations for a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RECP) treaty between 16 Asian countries, including India.

PSI North America: Principles for Nafta renegotiation

26 June 2017

PSI affiliates in the US and Canada comment on the NAFTA renegotiations submitted to the United States Trade Representative (USTR). "We need a new approach to trade that puts the interests of working people and the environment first. We need an economy that puts a high priority on jobs, living standards, sustainability, and labor rights." Click on the image below to read it in full.

PSI attends RCEP workshop in Bangalore, India

02 June 2017

PSI affiliates and civil society organisations held a two-day workshop on 2-3 April on the proposed free trade agreement Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RECP).

Labor groups raise grave concerns over RCEP

09 May 2017

Representatives from major trade unions in both the public and private sectors have raised serious concerns on the possible impacts of the Regional Economic Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (RCEP) which is currently being negotiated in Manila.

Wages, social affairs and the environment under attack

13 October 2014

What lurks behind the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)?

PSI Special Report: The Really Good Friends of Transnational Corporations Agreement

30 September 2014

This new report on trade, written by Ellen Gould, was launched by PSI and Our World is not For Sale (OWINFS) at a Global Trade Summit in Washington, D.C., on 15-17 September 2014.

How investor-to-state dispute settlement threatens public welfare and undermines democracy

12 September 2014

Many international trade and investment agreements give individuals and corporations who invest in other countries access to a special legal procedure that can challenge domestic policy decisions in private tribunals. Investors—meaning anyone who buys property in a foreign country, from a hectare of land to stocks and bonds—can use “investor-to-state dispute settlement” (ISDS) to sue governments over laws, regulations and even domestic court decisions that affect current or future profits. You can think of ISDS as establishing special “corporate courts” that have their own rules and that a country’s own citizens cannot use.

PSI Special Report: TISA versus Public Services

28 April 2014
Cover page - TISA versus Public Services

A new report by Public Services International (PSI) warns that governments are planning to take the world on a liberalisation spree on a scale never seen before. According to the report, this massive trade deal will put public healthcare, broadcasting, water, transport and other services at risk. The proposed deal could make it impossible for future governments to restore public services to public control, even in cases where private service delivery has failed. It would also restrict a government’s ability to regulate key sectors including financial, energy, telecommunications and cross-border data flows.

Campaign release kit - TISA

25 April 2014

In order to influence the TISA negotiations PSI has developed a release strategy and campaign kit.

Model press release - TISA

25 April 2014

STRICTLY EMBARGOED – not for publication or distribution until 28 APRIL 2014

Petition signed by 350 organisations opposed to the TISA

25 April 2014

Our World is Not for Sale (OWINFS) petition signed by over 350 organisations. Available in five languages.

Model protest letter - TISA

25 April 2014

A model letter of protest available in five languages to send to your government.

Why the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) is a bad deal

25 April 2014

Information leaflet for handing out to members and at public protests

Badges: No trade in public services

17 April 2014
No trade in public services badge image

Join in the global movement to protest the Trade In Services Agreement (TISA) negotiations. Create your own badges - download the file in the language of your choice.

Banners: No trade in public services

17 April 2014

Join in the global movement to protest the Trade In Services Agreement (TISA) negotiations. Create your own banner - download the file in the language of your choice.

Presentation: Free trade agreements and the public sector

12 February 2014

PSI Canadian and United States affiliates gathered in Washington, D.C. on January 30, 2014 to discuss the attacks on labor rights in North America.

Public health care vs. the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement

04 February 2014
Public health care vs the TPP agreement

A PSI - North America strategic briefing

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations are set to erect the largest, most comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) in the world today. The negotiations include 12 nation states of the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam - with South Korea still considering its incorporation.

Public Services for the Public Good: PSI statement on the Trade In Services Agreement (TISA)

02 December 2013

Universal quality public services and decent work are goals of economic development, to which international trade is but a means. Trade treaty rules should not force privatisation, nor interfere with the restoration or expansion of public services, where experiments with private provision fail or are rejected by democratically-elected governments. Trade treaties must not close policy space or inhibit innovation in public service provision.

Geneva: Protest rally against Trade In Services Agreement

22 April 2014

Monday 28 April, members of the Swiss trade unions, global unions and civil society will lead an international day of action to protest against the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA). In Geneva, the protest will take place before the Permanent Mission of Australia (Chemin des Fins 2, 1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland) , where negotiations are taking place in secret.

10th FIQ Congress

11 April 2014
Mark Langevin at FIQ Congress

The FIQ (Fédération Interprofessionelle de la santé du Québec) held its 10th Congress from 7 to 10th April 2014 in Quebec city. 700 delegates from all over Quebec participated.

PSI Trade In Services Agreement event in Bali

05 December 2013
The dangers of liberalising services - forum flyer image

Public Services International is presenting a special forum at the 9th WTO Ministerial in Bali. This forum aims to shed light in dark corners: Why is a new services agreement required? Why must it be negotiated in secrecy outside the multilateral process? Why are so many developing countries refusing to participate? What benefit will it provide to the majority in the community?

WTO 9th Ministerial Conference

03 December 2013

This ministerial meeting will deal with a number of issues of importance to PSI affiliates, including further talks on the Doha Round, trade facilitation and the potentially very dangerous TISA.

PSI Asia Pacific Regional Forum on Quality Public Services

07 October 2013
QPS logo

PSI’s Asia Pacific Regional Office is hosting a forum on quality public services on 16-18 October 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand. The forum will highlight discussion on the priority public services issues of the region, evaluating union strengths and strategies to take the issues to a further level.

World Day for Decent Work 2013

03 October 2013

On 7 October we celebrate the World Day for Decent Work. Public Services International (PSI) joins the international trade union movement in demanding decent work for all and an end to the continuous attacks on trade union rights around the world. We want jobs that provide decent salaries and social security with safe working conditions.

PSI Workshop at the WTO Forum

27 September 2013
Someone typing on a computer

PSI has been selected to run a workshop at the WTO Annual forum where we can explain to Ambassadors and trade negotiators from all over the globe why the TISA hurts quality public services.

WTO Public Forum

01 August 2013

The Public Forum is the World Trade Organization’s largest annual outreach event to discuss the latest developments in world trade. This year’s theme is "expanding trade through innovation and the digital economy." This event is an opportunity for PSI to promote the importance of public services and influence those who negotiate trade agreements that affect our members.

Anti-TISA demonstration, Geneva, 28 April 2014

26 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.

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: Hands off our medecines

09 April 2014

Watch what Medicine Sans Frontier has to say about the TPP

Photos: PSI Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) Forum - Bali

06 December 2013

PSI presented a special forum at the 9th WTO Ministerial in Bali. This forum aimed to shed light in dark corners: Why is a new services agreement required? Why must it be negotiated in secrecy outside the multilateral process? Why are so many developing countries refusing to participate? What benefit will it provide to the majority in the community?

Videos - Risks of the Trade in Services Agreement

16 October 2013

View on youtube all the videos from PSI's workshop on the Risks of the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), held at the WTO forum in Geneva, Switzerland, 2 October 2013.

Videos: BRICS Cycle of Debates

04 September 2013

The CSPB News Special Edition on the BRICS Cycle of Debates

Photos: Global Trade Strategy Meeting (WSF - Tunis 2013)

16 April 2013

Public Services International had the strongest global union presence at the World Social Forum 26-30 March 2013 in Tunis, Tunisia. PSI hosted and co-sponsored numerous events on trade union rights, youth, water, women’s issues, tax justice, energy and climate change.