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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

Investors requested to withdraw bids for Thessaloniki Water and Sewage Company

26 July 2013
Water tap

A large group of Greek, European and international organisations, networks and others have requested the bidders for the Thessaloniki Water and Sewage Company to withdraw their bids. They want the bidders to respect the wishes of the workers and local communities who do not want their company to be run by private operators.
All of the companies that are bidding have Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies that claim to respect and work with the local communities. If the local communities do not want the companies, then these should not push ahead and prefer profits over local demands.

Push for 2 million signatures in Europe

23 July 2013
Water is a human right

With only seven weeks left to go, the European Citizens’ Initiative has collected over 1.7 Million signatures and has achieved success in twelve countries. Greece, Italy and Spain have joined the list of countries where they campaigned successfully.

Please sign on, we need your help to reach 2 million signatures by 9 September 2013.

Proposal to exclude public water services from concessions is a win for Europe’s citizens

01 July 2013
Water is a human right - Thank you for signing!

Public Services International joins with PSI’s European representative, the European Federation of Public Service Unions, in welcoming the decision of European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services to listen to the voices of people concerned about further commercialisation and commodification of public water services.

Letter to Thessaloniki water bidders

01 July 2013
water drop

Please support the letter to the investors and companies that wish to partake in the privatisation of the water company of Thessaloniki. We ask them to withdraw their bid as they are not wanted in Thessaloniki.

Inauguration of “Water Plaza” in the ZENSUIDO Hall

07 June 2013
Commemorative symposium on water safety

On 7 June 2013, a symposium on water safety was held in commemoration of the establishment of “Water Plaza” in the ZENSUIDO Hall. ZENSUIDO, All Japan Water Supply Workers' Union, was established in 1951 by workers of prefectural and municipal utility companies and their affiliates, dealing with water supply and sewage facilities.

Green jobs and privatization don't mix

23 May 2013

For the first time, the agenda of next International Labour Conference (Geneva, 5-20 June, 2013) includes a General Discussion on “Sustainable Development, Decent Work and Green Jobs”.

Water is a Human Right petition reaches 1.5 million signatures

15 May 2013
Water is a human right logo

After reaching 1 million signatures in February, the first European Citizens' Initiative has now reached an astounding 1.5 million signatures. Eight countries have achieved the EU minimum, several of them have exceeded the minimum number by far.

PSI affiliate in solidarity with sister union in Colombia

14 May 2013
CUPE delegates raise money for work with union in Colombia

CUPE members from across Newfoundland and Labrador headed home on 8 May as their annual convention wrapped in Grand Falls-Windsor, but not before raising almost $11,000 for a sister union in Central America.

Public Services International at the World Social Forum, Tunis 2013

15 April 2013

Public Services International had the strongest global union presence at the World Social Forum 26-30 March 2013 in Tunis, Tunisia. PSI hosted and co-sponsored numerous events on trade union rights, youth, water, women’s issues, tax justice, energy and climate change.

Water justice advocates gather in Tunis

15 April 2013
PSI at the WSF water democracy workshop

The network of water justice advocates gathered in Tunis to further international collaboration and to support local activists. A six-hour meeting was organised prior to the launch of the world social forum on 25 March, and there were a number of meetings within the official WSF agenda.

Water supply for the world's people is a crucial issue at the World Social Forum

02 April 2013

One of the crucial issues being discussed at the World Social Forum 26-30 March 2013 in Tunis, Tunisia, is water supply. Listen to the RadioLabour interview of David Boys, Sectoral Officer with PSI.

Water, workers and our communities: Cooperating for the common good

19 March 2013
Child near water tap in Nepal, photo by niOS

World Water Day - 22 March 2013 - The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2013 the “International Year of Water Cooperation”, following its endorsement of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation in 2010. Public Services International affiliates around the world are committed to advancing this right in this international year of cooperation, and beyond.

Rosa Pavanelli addresses UN session on water and disasters

14 March 2013
Rosa Pavanelli on the UN panel

How to salvage the $50 billion lost to water-related disasters every year? How to maintain disaster-prone areas like cyclone-exposed coastlines, where the human population has skyrocketed 192 per cent over the last 30 years? How to protect impoverished peoples who get hit the hardest, like the 783 million living without clean drinking water, or the millions along the Niger River sacked by flooding?

Public service workers call for recognition and respect in the wake of Hurricane Sandy

14 March 2013
Celeste Kirkland, of Transit Workers’ Union Local 100, talking at the meeting

Superstorm Sandy left New York City scrambling to provide relief for the many people affected by the hurricane, which swept through in the late autumn of 2012. Fifty-five people were killed, and flooding damaged many homes and businesses. As with other disasters, responsibility for response to the tragedy fell to the hands of frontline public service workers. On Thursday 7 March 2013, workers from across the city came together to reflect on their professional experiences and to chart a common course moving forward in terms of disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

PSI Congress Resolutions

12 March 2013

Resolutions adopted at the 29th World Congress of Public Services International, held in Durban, South Africa, 27-30 November 2012. The resolutions are available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish, Japanese and Russian.