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Energy

Reliable electricity improves lives and supports economic development. Just ask anyone who gathers wood to cook. Private corporations – motivated by profit – have frequently failed to expand electrical services to those who need it most. They also charge all the market will bear. Public enterprises – motivated by serving the public interest – are better placed to provide clean, affordable energy.

PSI Africa energy sector union network meets

24 March 2014

Energy trade union representatives from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda met in Kigali, Rwanda, on 5-6 March for a workshop of the PSI Africa energy sector union network.

Almost 30 participants discussed the energy situation in their countries, and emphasized the obligation for all governments to provide electricity to all their citizens, especially in Africa.

Climate change could lead to global conflict

04 March 2014
Flooding and people in boats

In a recent article in UK daily The Guardian, climate expert Nicholas Stern says that the record rainfall and storm surges that have brought flooding across the UK are a clear sign that we are already experiencing the impacts of climate change.

Misguided privatisation in Pakistan

03 March 2014
Energy

PSI affiliate the Pakistan WAPDA Hydro Electric Central Labour Union (WAPDA) is fighting the latest misguided privatisation push in Pakistan. The union is mobilising members from across the country and is reaching out to community groups, academics and elected officials to resist the pressure from the IMF, the World Bank, and possibly the USA to privatise not only the national electricity system but also a number of other public assets.

Tags: 
Energy
Privatisation
Electricity

Assessing the performance of New York’s electricity utility Consolidated Edison after Hurricane Sandy

10 February 2014
UWUA

The Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) assessed the performance of New York’s electricity utility Consolidated Edison after Hurricane Sandy. The findings are very disturbing. In part because of these efforts, New York State Public Service Commission recently launched an operations audit of staffing levels of major energy utilities.

Privatisation provides no dividends for the poor

16 January 2014
Pylons

Privatisation has become the final resort of governments that need funds but are afraid to tax the wealthy and prevent tax evasion by big businesses. This article by Professor Sharon Beder was published in the Brisbane Times on 10 January 2014.

Tunisian unions block privatisation of renewable energy

13 January 2014
Mansour Cherni, left, takes the floor

Energy trade unions in Tunisia recently made the case for sustainable public renewable energy and managed to block government privatisation plans.

Nigeria power sector privatisation: unionists sacked

08 January 2014

Trade union officials working for the Nigerian power sector have been sacked as part of the privatisation plans of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

FirstEnergy locks out utility workers in US

28 November 2013
Demonstrators holding banners, one saying "I want to work"

FirstEnergy Corp. – one of the largest electric power corporations in the United States – locked out 150 members of the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) in the early morning hours of November 25, three days before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.

Unions and civil society walk out on UN climate talks in Poland

26 November 2013
Group demonstration at COP13

Trade union and civil society representatives at COP 13, the UN climate talks in Warsaw, walked out of the meeting on 21 November in protest of government and corporate inaction.

PSI signs Global Framework Agreement to improve workers’ rights and representation with Enel

25 June 2013
Rosa Pavanelli PSI General Secretary signs the agreement

On 14 June 2013 in Rome, Italy, the global unions Public Services International and IndustriALL signed a Global Framework Agreement with the multinational enterprise Enel, which operates in more than 40 countries.

Paraguay: No to the privatisation of the energy sector

24 June 2013
Paraguay: No to the privatisation of the energy sector

Following actions from PSI affiliate SITRANDE (Sindicato de Trabajadores de la ANDE), including demonstrations in Asuncion uniting workers from all over the country, and strong support from PSI, the parliament of Paraguay decided to postpone on Tuesday 18 June any decision on the regulatory system of electricity.

Green jobs and privatization don't mix

23 May 2013

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”.

Public Services International at the World Social Forum, Tunis 2013

15 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.

Energy and development policies at the WSF

15 April 2013
WSF Tunis

The PSI utilities delegation included members from the following countries: Tunisia, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal, Palestine, Algeria, South Africa. Many other unions participated in WSF as part of their national delegations. Our UGTT affiliates arranged for PSI to have a tent in the trade union village; we presented many documents and posters which were well received. PSI and UGTT banners on the right to water and to energy adorned the main entryway of the World Social Forum.

Australia: Electricity unions launch campaign to keep NSW electricity network in public hands

09 April 2013

PSI Australian affiliates - ASU - USU Branch and ETU launched a multi-million dollar community campaign against a proposal by the O'Farrell Government to sell the state's electricity poles and wires monopoly to pay for unfunded election commitments.