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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.

The tragedy of the private, the potential of the public

17 March 2014
Man dressed as clown holding banner against water privatisation

This new booklet co-published by Public Services international and the Transnational Institute surveys anti-privatisation campaigns by PSI affiliates around the world. From South Africa to Brazil, from Italy to the US, in Uruguay, Greece, Norway, the UK and in many other countries, municipal councils are taking services back under public control.

Philippines union works with municipality to improve public services and workers’ benefits

15 October 2013

Jonathan Jamora, local president of the Bislig City Employees Association (BISCEA) in the Philippines and a member of the National Executive Board of PSLINK, joined the PSI delegation to the UCLG Congress World Summit for Local and Regional Leaders, in Rabat, Morocco, 1-4 October 2013.

BISCEA has built a relationship with Bislig’s municipal government and takes an active role in improving and delivering public services daily.

Workers’ rights and municipal organising in Brazil

07 October 2013
Joao Gabriel Guimaraes Buonavita

Brazilian Joao Gabriel Guimaraes Buonavita represented the PSI-affiliated SINDSEP-SP union at the UCLG World Summit for Local and Regional Leaders in Rabat, Morocco, 1-4 October 2013.

“My participation at this conference was a great opportunity to meet Brazilian mayors and organisations,” he said.

The struggle for local government autonomy in Nigeria

07 October 2013

Ibrahim Khaleel from the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) was a member of the Public Services International delegation at the World Summit of the Local and Regional Leaders in Rabat, Morocco, from 1-4 October 2013.

No democracy without transparency

04 October 2013

Public Services International General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli stressed the importance of transparency in public services as a means to fight corruption and to obtain resources to cover the needs of public service users, during forum discussions at the United Cities and Local Governments World Summit in Rabat, Morocco, 1-4 October.

European Groups applaud Bern for becoming first Blue Community in Europe

18 September 2013
Three people holding Blue Planet Project cerificates

Social justice, environmental, and labour organizations in Europe are applauding the city of Bern for taking a bold new step to protect water as a commons. Launched by the Blue Planet Project based in Canada, the Blue Communities certification requires municipal governments to pass legislation recognising water as a human right and pledging to promote and protect public water and sanitation services.

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.