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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.

Reaction to the agreed Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development by PSI

24 July 2015
Opening

On 16 July, the Financing for Development Conference (FFD3) has come to an end by adopting the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on FFD. PSI joins the trade union movement and civil society partners in their rejection of the outcome, which will be neither transformative nor deliver the future we want.

The support for energy privatisation in Nigeria is not acceptable

23 July 2015
Nigeria stop privatisation

Millions of pounds of UK aid money has been used to support the privatisation of Nigeria’s electricity system. The result has been a disaster with escalating energy prices, job losses and declining quality of services. PSI has joined Global Justice Now and UNISON in their campaign to stop this privatisation.

Development without Public Services?

16 July 2015

While we have seen a remarkable shift in the debate on tax within the Financing for Development (FFD) agenda, the funding and recognition of the role of public services for development remains problematic.

Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD3)

13 July 2015

As negotiations for the Post 2015 Development Agenda draw to a close at the United Nations, Member States are discussing means of implementation and financing. PSI is taking an active part in this process together with other trade unions and civil society partners.

What lies beneath? A critical assessment of PPPs and their impact on sustainable development

09 July 2015

This report by Eurodad, the European Network on Debt and Development, looks at the empirical and theoretical evidence available on the nature and impact of PPPs, and analyses the experiences of Tanzania and Peru. It critically assesses whether PPPs deliver on the promises of their proponents and gives concrete recommendations for policymakers.

Public finance and democratic control are key to achieving the SDGs

06 July 2015

PSI Deputy General Secretary David Boys, and Satoko Kishimoto, coordinator of the Reclaiming Public Water Network and the Water Justice Project at the Transnational Institute (TNI) have published a post on the Public Finance for WASH blog.

PSI Executive Board: the members talk

28 May 2015
Veronika Karlsson, President of VISION, Sweden

Representatives of PSI affiliates met in Geneva on 27-28 May 2015 for the PSI Executive Board meeting. PSI interviewed some Executive Board members and asked them about their union’s activities. Please click on the names to watch the video interviews.

In UK, private water companies must provide environmental information on request

20 April 2015

A recent ruling by the UK's Upper Tribunal has ruled that privatised utility companies in England and Wales are considered to be public authorities for the purpose of environmental information regulations. The judgement means that water companies must provide environmental information to the public upon request.

The global experience with remunicipalisation

08 April 2015

TNI, PSIRU, Multinational Observatory, MSP and EPSU have launched a new book on the emerging remunicipalisation trend and the questions it poses about the future of water privatisation.

Why are so many cities choosing to end privatisation and return to public water services?

08 April 2015
Our public water future

In the run-up to the 2015 World Water Forum in South Korea on April 12, Transnational Institute with four organisations[1] have released new research on the growing wave of cities worldwide that are taking previously privatised water supply and sanitation services back under public control, in a process called remunicipalisation.

Nigerian trade unionists push to stop water privatization

01 April 2015

In Nigeria, tens of thousands of people are standing together to protect their water from global corporations. With one voice, they have taken up a call: Our Water, Our Right. They have issued a powerful demand for the Lagos government to reject privatization plans.

London Gallery staff on strike against privatisations

31 March 2015

The Public and commercial services union (PCS), a PSI affiliate in the UK, continues its actions against privatisation at London's National Gallery.

Jakarta court cancels world's biggest water privatisation after 18-year failure

25 March 2015
KRuHA - People's Coalition for The Right To Water

25 March 2015 – The Central Jakarta District Court on 24 March annulled the water privatisation contracts of Suez (PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya – Palyja) and Aetra, finding that the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) were negligent in fulfilling the human right to water for Jakarta’s residents.

UK: Senior union rep suspended as National Gallery strike enters fourth week

19 March 2015

Candy Udwin, senior union rep for the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) in the UK, has been dismissed after being suspended just before the strike began in February.

Why Public-Private Partnerships don’t work

17 March 2015
Drinking from tap

Public Services International (PSI) has just released the new report “Why Public-Private Partnerships don’t work: The many advantages of the public alternative”.