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Local and Regional Government/Municipal sector

Local and regional governments (LRG)/municipal sector workers run essential services in cities, metropolitan areas and territories servicing millions of people and communities every day. Our members work in public administrations; public utilities such as water and sanitation, electricity, and solid waste. They operate public transport and maintain public spaces; work in social, culture and education services such as libraries, museums, kindergartens, schools and universities. They are health and social services workers. Firefighters, emergency, medical first responders and municipal police are also among LRG/municipal workers. PSI defends and promotes the union and labour rights of LRG/municipal workers and advocates their decent working and living conditions so that they can sustainably deliver accessible, quality public services to the local communities and territories they serve and successfully confront the many challenges posed by rapid urbanization and globalization. Join the discussion on PSI's LRG/Municipal Workers Facebook Group.

PSI CONTRAMA: a new confederation of municipal workers

28 August 2013

Municipal trade unions from eleven Latin American countries met in Brasilia, 5-7 August 2013, to establish a new confederation of municipal workers – PSI CONTRAMA.

Finnish union JHL trains activists to influence municipal decision making

14 August 2013

Trade union work requires many operational skills at all levels of the organisation. In Pirkanmaa - the area around the city of Tampere, Finland - JHL is currently running a project to hone and develop the skills of their local activists. The project is called Pilot Pirkanmaa and it will continue until the end of the year.

Condolences for tragic deaths of Arizona firefighters

02 July 2013
A wildfire at Florida Panther NWR. Photo by Josh O'Connor - USFWS

Members of the global union federation Public Services International are saddened to learn of the death of 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a specialist team of wildfire fighters, killed while fighting a fire in Yarnell, Arizona. It appears that a sudden wind change pushed the wildfire back onto their position.

Kommunal’s bus drivers on strike!

24 June 2013
Kommunal bus drivers on strike

PSI affiliate in Sweden, Kommunal, has been negotiating throughout the Spring for drivers in the urban public bus sector. But the negotiations have broken down – and Kommunal went on strike from 19 June 2013.

PSI Congress Resolutions

12 March 2013

Resolutions adopted at the 29th World Congress of Public Services International, held in Durban, South Africa, 27-30 November 2012. The resolutions are available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish, Japanese and Russian.

Massive strike in India

22 February 2013
India - HMS union on strike

An estimated 100 million workers took to the streets for a two-day strike organised by national trade union centres in India. PSI affiliated unions representing workers in the electricity, defense, water and municipal sectors were there in force.

Rosa Pavanelli elected to lead Public Services International

28 November 2012

Italian trade unionist Rosa Pavanelli has been elected as the new leader of the global union federation Public Services International, representing 20 million public service workers in 150 countries. Pavanelli says her vision is founded on “giving PSI new energy, and standing up for justice, solidarity, equality, a fairer and more sustainable world.”

The leadership vote took place during PSI’s 29th World Congress in Durban, South Africa (27-30 November 2012). Danish trade unionist Peter Waldorff had sought re-election as general secretary following one term in office.

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

22 November 2012

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

Finland: Job security for municipal workers

09 November 2012

Municipal employees in Finland have great faith in job sustainability. According to a new book only three per cent of municipal employees fear losing their jobs.

November 14: Day of action and solidarity for a Social Compact for Europe

08 November 2012

November 14 will be a day of action and solidarity all over Europe. Get the overview of the national actions taking place.

New agreement on local economic and social development

07 November 2012

As local economic and social development are increasing priority in local governments' agendas, UCLG has signed an agreement with the ILO.

UK: Hundreds of thousands call for A Future that Works

22 October 2012
Green shoes

In the streets of London, Glasgow and Belfast hundreds of thousands of people took part in the march for A Future that Works on October 20.

UK: Campaign against privatisation

15 October 2012
Nurse and elderly person

Shouldn't your health come before profits? British UNISON asks in their new campaign to stop privatisation of your public services.

IMF promotes public spending rather than cuts to prevent new global crisis

09 October 2012
Two children holding a poster

The International Monetary Fund urges European and US leaders to promote growth instead of cuts in public spending to avoid dragging down the global economy with another financial crisis.

Actions and events against austerity all over Europe

21 September 2012

Major protests against austerity measures are taking place in many European countries.We give you the list of upcoming events: