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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.

Federal Correctional Officers in the US Praise DOJ Decision to End Use of Private Prisons

19 August 2016

PSI affiliate American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) hails announcement as move towards safe, responsible incarceration policy.

People's Inquiry Into Privatisation Launches

18 August 2016

The impact on ordinary Australians of privatising essential public assets and services will be examined in a People’s Inquiry launched by Public Services International; hearings will start in Newcastle on 5 September and conclude in Canberra on 27 October.

Uganda to close commercial private schools over non-respect of basic education standards

17 August 2016

The Ugandan Minister of Education and Sports, Hon Janet Museveni, formally announced during a session of the parliament on 9 August 2016 that the Government will soon close the schools operated by the largest and most controversial chain of commercial private schools worldwide, Bridge International Academies (BIA), which runs 63 nursery and primary schools in Uganda.

In Lagos, groups demand halt to planned water privatisation

28 July 2016
Photo: Sani Baba

Civil society, community-based groups and unionists supported by Public Services International have petitioned the House of Assembly, asking it to step on the brakes on plans by the Lagos State government to embark on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model of water privatisation.

PrepCom3 on Habitat III

20 July 2016
PSI side event at PrepCom3

On 26 July, during the third session of the Preparatory Committee of the Habitat III Conference, PSI is organising with ICRICT and PSIRU a side event called “Financing and investing in urban public services: The key to inclusive cities”. PrepCom3 will be held in Surabaya, Indonesia, from 25-27 July at the Convention and Exhibition Hall Grand City Convex Surabaya.

Public Utility Workers Union in Ghana applauds the support of PSI

19 July 2016

The General Secretary of Public Utility Workers Union (PUWU), Mr. Kwabena Bonzie Quaye has commended the efforts of PSI in their provision of technical assistance to the union and thanked PSI for the conferences and workshops which members of their union have benefited from.

New report on PPPs warns UNCTAD against proposed policy shift

18 July 2016

A study released today on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) raises significant concerns over the controversial funding mechanism and serves as a clear warning to leaders meeting at UNCTAD14 this week. The research paper, titled PPPs and the SDGs; don’t believe the hype, found that PPPs often contribute to decreased transparency and accountability, increased incentives for corruption and do not attract significant new capital.

Privatisation offers a bleak future to UK museums

08 July 2016
No privatisation at the National Gallery

Tracy Edwards, group secretary at PCS union, has written a piece for the Guardian newspaper on privatisation in British museums. Here's an extract.

Nigerian public workers rally against state policy on wages and privatisation

08 July 2016
Workers rally in Oyo, Nigeria

Oyo state public service workers held a rally on 15 June to protest unpaid salaries and proposed privatization of some schools.

Overview of proposed privatization of Electricity Sector in Ghana

22 June 2016

This recent analysis by PSIRU shows the influence of the US government and its Millennium Challenge Corporation in the planned energy privatization in Ghana.

Defending public services together!

21 June 2016

On the occasion of UN Public Service Day, on the 23rd of June, Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, says "we need to ensure multinationals pay their fair share of tax and that governments use this revenue to drive public sector growth through investment in universal, quality public services".

Tell the World Bank to stop promoting water privatization

16 June 2016
Photo: Kate Holt - Africa Practice - Creative Commons
PSI is working with a number of allies to put pressure on the World Bank to stop promoting water privatization under the disguise of public private partnerships (PPPs). Send a letter to the World Bank Executive Director representing your country asking that the World Bank end all support for water privatization!

Unions and Civil Society highlight need for fairer tax and trade rules, less private-sector emphasis at UNCTAD hearing.

26 May 2016

PSI joined a coalition of NGOs and unions in pushing the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development to adopt a stronger commitment to a fairer global tax and trade system at the UNCTAD quadrennial event in Nairobi later this year.

Privatization Watch survey

11 May 2016
PSI has launched a bi-weekly privatization newsletter – Privatization Watch – which collects news from around the world on privatization in water, health, energy, education, municipal and other government services, PPPs and related issues. Please fill in this very short survey to help us to improve our newsletter and tailor it to your needs.

Stand with the Pearson 100 and let your voice be heard

25 April 2016
Tell Pearson - Private Schools in Developing countries

Public employee and education unions have mobilized a global capital campaign in support of shareholders resolution at the Pearson PLC Annual General Meeting.