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Privatisation

Quality public services are the foundation of democratic societies and successful economies. They ensure that everyone has equal access to vital services, including as health care, education, electricity, clean water and sanitation. When these services are privatised, maximizing corporate profits replaces the public interest as the driving force. Privatisation is a dangerous trend that must be reversed.

Workers in Ghana demonstrate against massive increase in utility tariffs

27 January 2016

Wednesday 20 January 2016, Ghanaian workers, mostly public sector workers and members of PSI’s 8 affiliates in the country, took to the streets along with other civil society groups to protest the recent massive increases in utility tariffs calling on the government to withdraw the Energy Sector Levies Act 899 of 2015 with immediate effect.

India: Coalition unites to block PPP water privatization schemes

25 January 2016

According to Corporate Accountability International, groups plan a series of escalating events to expose the truth about Nagpur’s failed PPP water privatization scheme promoted by the Modi government and World Bank. A group of trade unions in India is addressing a global petition to the World Bank.

US university’s subcontracted campus jobs mean poverty wages

14 January 2016
Justice for UC workers!

Fifty students held a two-hour occupation of the central administration offices at the University of California, Berkeley on 3 December to demand living wages and benefits for workers employed by private contractors on campus. Police arrested 22 of the students who were charged with misdemeanor offenses.

USA: School custodians must keep their jobs – no to privatisation!

13 January 2016
Supporters demonstrate in favour of the AFSCME custodians

At Nashua in the state of New Hampshire, USA, in September 2015, the Board of Education voted 7-1 to end its contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents the Nashua custodial workers (janitors). The board said they are looking to hire a private cleaning company instead.

Water sector reforms in India

11 January 2016
2015 Campaign on water privatisation in India

Gaurav Dwivedi, a water expert from Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, has prepared an overview of water sector reforms in India. Manthan Adhyayan Kendra is a centre set up to research, analyse and monitor water and energy issues from the perspective of just, equitable and sustainable development.

Video: #ThisIsACoup

11 January 2016

A four-part documentary series telling the story of the European Union's confrontation with the Greek Syriza party in 2015 and how the European Union destroyed the first radical left government in modern history.

Sign the petition against water privatisation in India

23 December 2015

A group of trade unions in India is addressing a petition to the World Bank, calling on them to end their promotion and financial support of all forms of water privatisation and acknowledge the failures behind it.

Protecting the Public Interest from Predatory Privatization and Outsourcing: A Call to Action

01 December 2015

Joint statement by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and Public services International (PSI) for the meeting discussing the global push for privatization, linking unions' national campaigns to regional and global dynamics taking place in Washington, D.C. on 2-3 December.

Protecting the public interest from predatory privatization and outsourcing

27 November 2015
AFSCME

For two days union leaders and policy leaders from the World Bank, the IMF and the U.S. Government led by Treasury, will discuss the global push for privatization, linking unions' national campaigns to regional and global dynamics.

Corporate inroads on public education in the Philippines

26 November 2015
Children at school in the Philippines

Education International has published a new study on the extent of for-profit education in the Philippines. "Corporatised Education in the Philippines: Pearson, Ayala corporation, and the emergence of affordable private education systems" details how private secondary schools are growing at an alarming rate.

South African university reverses outsourcing of services

04 November 2015
University of Cape Town

The University of Cape Town (UCT) signed an historic agreement with PSI affiliate the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) on 28 October to insource six of its outsourced services.

European Parliament resolution supports public ownership and water management

10 September 2015
Water is a human right

PSI joins many others in congratulating the European water movement for the important vote in the European Parliament on 8 September.

Support PCS strike at London's National Gallery

21 August 2015

Staff at London's National Gallery, organised by PSI affiliate the Public and commercial services union (PCS), have been on strike since February 2015 following the Gallery's decision to privatise almost all staff, including those who look after the paintings and help the gallery's six million annual visitors.

Public sector health services in a downward spiral of privatization in Québec, Canada

12 August 2015

In Québec, the public sector health system is being systematically eroded through deliberate underspending that has physicians fleeing the public system for private practice. As the physicians leave, the conditions for patients in the public system worsen, justifying criticisms of inefficiency and further cuts.

UK: Continuous strike greets new National Gallery director

12 August 2015
Strikers at the National Gallery, London

The first week of the National Gallery's new director will be marked by continuous strike action by staff fighting privatisation, the Public and Commercial Services union says. Since11 August, the union's members have embarked on a continuous strike after taking more than 50 days since February.