We've moved to a new site!

Join us at publicservices.international - for all the latest news, resources and struggles from around the world.

We are no longer updating world-psi.org and it will be progressively phased out: all content will be migrated to the new site and old links will redirect eventually.

  1. Home
  2. Trade Union Rights
  3. Trade union rights news

Trade union rights news

All work has dignity, and all workers deserve to be treated with respect by their employers. Trade unions play a decisive role in improving working conditions, safety and wages – yet some governments and employers systematically abuse the right of workers to join existing unions or form new ones. PSI works actively to support the right of workers to free collective bargaining, and to help stop abuses when they occur.

Perú: National Strike on 22 and 23 April

24 April 2014
Unions on strike 22-23 April 2014

Update: Humala 's government has responded to the demands by closing down dialogue with the unions and suppressing mobilization. Faced with this attitude the unions have decided to maintain an indefinite strike, the starting date of action will be decided within the Single National Committee.

Tell Ecuador’s President: Stop the persecution of social and labour activists

23 April 2014
Dr. Carlos Figueroa

The former leader of an organization affiliated with Public Services International (PSI) in Ecuador and two others were sentenced to prison after criticizing government actions in Ecuador. The American Commission of Human Rights, IACHR, has recently granted precautionary measures in favour of these people and the Ecuadorian government refuses to comply.

Tackling the social crisis in post-election Algeria

16 April 2014
A protestor holding a placard telling President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to step out of the way at a demonstration held in Bejaia on 5 April 2014 to call for a boycott of the Algerian presidential election. (AP Photo/Sidali Djarboub)

This article was published on the Equal Times website on 15 April 2014.

PSI at the Global Dialogue Forum on Collective Bargaining in the Public Service

15 April 2014

PSI took part in the Global Dialogue Forum on Challenges to Collective Bargaining in the Public Service which was held at the ILO, Geneva, on 2-3 April 2014. The Forum brought together participants from governments, employer participants and worker participants nominated by the Employers’ group and the Workers’ group of the Governing Body, respectively. It examined an Issues paper prepared by the Office.

FirstEnergy ends Penelec lockout but continues unfair concession demands

09 April 2014
striking workers

The Utility Workers Union of America, a PSI affiliate, welcomed FirstEnergy’s decision to end its lockout of 142 utility workers at its Penelec subsidiary in central Pennsylvania, but criticized management for unilaterally implementing unfair cutbacks in customer service standards, employee working conditions, and benefits.

Canada: Union launches court action against anti-rights bill

07 April 2014

In Canada, last year's federal budget omnibus bill will now face its biggest challenge to date - a court challenge.

On 24 March 2014, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), a PSI affiliate, announced that they are mounting a legal challenge to Bill C-4. The bill gives the federal government exclusive power to decide what workers are essential, changes the terms under which workers would have to go to arbitration and redefines what "danger" is to an employee.