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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.

Privatization Watch - 05/2017

05 July 2017
An overview of global trends in privatization of public services. Privatization Watch - Issue 05/2017.

PSI North America: Principles for Nafta renegotiation

26 June 2017

PSI affiliates in the US and Canada comment on the NAFTA renegotiations submitted to the United States Trade Representative (USTR). "We need a new approach to trade that puts the interests of working people and the environment first. We need an economy that puts a high priority on jobs, living standards, sustainability, and labor rights." Click on the image below to read it in full.

Reclaiming Public Services: How cities and citizens are turning back privatisation

26 June 2017

Reclaiming Public Services is vital reading for anyone interested in the future of local, democratic services like energy, water and health care. This is an in-depth world tour of new initiatives in public ownership and the variety of approaches to deprivatisation.

UN Public Services Awards: Paris water win highlights benefits of remunicipalisation

23 June 2017

Seven years ago the City of Paris brought their water supply back into public hands. Today they received one of the highest international public service awards at a special UN ceremony at The Hague.

Towards a global campaign on PPPs

21 June 2017

On Tuesday 20 June, Public Services International (PSI) and EURODAD organized a joint workshop entitled “NGO's and trade unions workshop on public-private partnerships (PPPs): towards a global campaign on PPPs”, where PSI presented its PEOPLE OVER PROFIT platform, which will be launched in the coming months. The meeting was an excellent opportunity to explore ideas on more in-depth cooperation and how to support the development of the platform with both on-and off-line actions.

PSIRU releases brief on "categorical errors on water renationalisation"

06 June 2017

This PSIRU Brief, written by Emanuele Lobina, discusses some of the categorical errors mainstream economists make in predicting the outcome of water renationalisation. It argues that these errors are due to the misrepresentation of the ethos and motivation of the public and private sectors.

Towards a global campaign on PPPs: PSI/Eurodad workshop

03 June 2017

The time is now for NGOs and trade unions to exchange ideas on potential advocacy and campaign activities for the year ahead and, if possible, agree on joint actions to further strengthen collaboration and work towards a global campaign on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

JICHIRO supports Myanmar public sector unions sharing its experience and impact analysis of the privatization of municipal public services in Japan

29 May 2017
Nurses Congress

In coordination and cooperation with its national center JTUC-RENGO, the ALL-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union (JICHIRO), affiliated to PSI, has been supporting the democratic transition process in Myanmar by carrying out capacity building activities with Burmese trade unions especially in the public service sector.

What is in and what is not for workers in the final text of the New Urban Agenda: a trade union assessment of the outcome document of Habitat III

26 May 2017

In October 2016, over 30,000 representatives of national, regional and local governments, trade unions, business, academia, and civil society gathered in Quito, Ecuador, for the Habitat III Conference (HIII), where state representatives adopted the New Urban Agenda (NUA), the UN guidelines meant to serve as a reference for urbanization policies for the next 20 years.

Renationalisation is needed to tackle water poverty

23 May 2017

This PSIRU Brief, written by Emanuele Lobina, shows that water privatisation in England and Wales has led to a concerning increase in water poverty, and that economic regulator Ofwat is part of the problem. It argues that renationalisation is needed to tackle water poverty.

Privatization Watch - 04/2017

16 May 2017

An overview of global trends in privatization of public services. Privatization Watch - Issue 04/2017.

Unions call on World Bank to cease investments in low-fee private schools

26 April 2017

Union leaders and education advocates joined forces on 21 April in front of the World Bank in protest of its continued support of for-profit education agencies in general, and specifically, Bridge International Academies.

Brazil: Thousands take to the streets in preparation for the general strike

10 April 2017

Two weeks after massive marches on 15 March in protest against measures introduced by President Temer’s government, on 31 March workers all over the country came together again. The protests were seen as a precursor to the all-out strike planned for 28 April.

Privatization Watch - 03/2017

30 March 2017

An overview of global trends in privatization of public services. Privatization Watch - Issue 03/2017.

“Our Water, Our Right”, Lagosians insist

30 March 2017

22 March was marked as World Water Day in Lagos with a demonstration in defence of the right to water. The demonstration which drew about 500 persons was organised by the “Our Water, Our Right” coalition. It was a continuation of the struggle against privatisation of water by the state government which has yielded some results, with amendments to the Environment bill before it was passed into law on 1st March.