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.

Water and sanitation

Clean water and sanitation – recently recognised by the United Nations as basic human rights – are critical to good health. They help prevent disease. Yet billions of people have no ready access to safe water. It is an essential service that governments must provide to protect their citizens and serve their common good. Read more here

Veolia loses its water contract in Nice, France

12 March 2013
water pipe by hodgers

Veolia will lose its water contract for Nice after Mayor Christian Estrosi said he wants the French city to control its water management from February 2015. This is one of Veolia’s Heritage Contracts. It’s the oldest private water contract in the world, awarded without competition and never once subjected to competition in 150 years.

Investing in disaster preparedness, response and recovery

05 March 2013
People being rescued from flooding in a boat

THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2013

Panel discussion 6:30-9:30pm

32BJ SEIU - 25 West 18th Street

5th Floor Conference Room

(between 5th & 6th Aves) New York, NY

Massive strike in India

22 February 2013
India - HMS union on strike

An estimated 100 million workers took to the streets for a two-day strike organised by national trade union centres in India. PSI affiliated unions representing workers in the electricity, defense, water and municipal sectors were there in force.

One million signatures for water as a human right!

12 February 2013

‘Water is a Human Right’ has made history as being the first European Citizens' Initiative in the history of the European Union to have collected over 1 million signatures.

Vote for the changes that would make the most difference to your world

04 February 2013

The United Nations and partners want to hear from you! My World is a global survey asking you to choose your priorities for a better world. Results will be shared with world leaders in setting the next global development agenda.

Greeks say no to water privatisation

29 January 2013
Water tap by Laenulfean

Greece is under enormous pressure to privatize its water system. As the country drowns in debt, the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank (often referred to as the “troika”) work with eager Greek political parties to balance the books by selling off public water.

Water privatisation in Europe

22 January 2013
Water fountain by airdiogo

The German public TV show, Monitor, has produced an interesting piece on water privatisation threats in Europe.

European mayors support water and sanitation as a human right

10 December 2012

On 10 December, Human Rights Day, mayors from 10 major European cities in seven different countries launch an appeal to their citizens to support the European Citizens Initiative (ECI) calling for the implementation of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation into European law.

Rosa Pavanelli elected to lead Public Services International

28 November 2012

Italian trade unionist Rosa Pavanelli has been elected as the new leader of the global union federation Public Services International, representing 20 million public service workers in 150 countries. Pavanelli says her vision is founded on “giving PSI new energy, and standing up for justice, solidarity, equality, a fairer and more sustainable world.”

The leadership vote took place during PSI’s 29th World Congress in Durban, South Africa (27-30 November 2012). Danish trade unionist Peter Waldorff had sought re-election as general secretary following one term in office.

PSI’s 29th World Congress in Durban, South Africa, 27-30 November 2012

22 November 2012

As part of its World Congress events, PSI is holding a series of pre-congress meetings on key issues.

Tunisia: Trade unions organise national campaign against fracking

14 November 2012

The Tunisian union UGTT is coordinating a national campaign against fracking as the government is about to sign a deal with Shell.

Wall Street's thirst for water

12 November 2012

A global water market will push the price of food far beyond the peaks of the past five years, according to an article in Nature magazine.

Ireland: Alliance to defend public ownership of water

09 November 2012

Irish trade union representatives have formed an alliance to defend public ownership of water services in Ireland.

Germany: EU Commissioner suggests power transmission being nationalised

06 November 2012
Man speaking into a microphone

State ownership will provide a faster and more uniform expansion of the transmission networks, says German EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger.

Spain: Heated debate on concession award to water company

05 November 2012

In Spain a heated debate is raging over the legality of a recent concession award to Spanish water services company Agbar.