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Europe

PSI is represented in Europe by the European Federation of Public Service Unions, based in Brussels. For more on our activities in this region, please see the EPSU website

You can also view a list of European affiliates or contact European regional offices

UN Global Compact on Migration Concluded

02 August 2018

Friday 13 July 2018 was a historic day in the United Nations. After one year of preparatory thematic and regional consultations and multi-stakeholder dialogues, and six months of intense inter-governmental negotiations, UN Member States have concluded and agreed on the text of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

Trade Unions in Transformation

31 July 2018
Photo: Striking dressmakers take a break in diner, ca. 1955 by Kheel Center - CC BY 2.0

With “trade unions in transformation«, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) contributes to shifting the narrative about trade unions. Moving away from the standard depiction of unions as victims of globalization, this project highlights that unions do have agency and power. The stories of successful trade union action told in this brochure demonstrate how labour can and already does shape globalization.

International Youth Day 2018 - #SafeSpaces4Youth

24 July 2018

For International Youth Day 2018 on 12 August, Public Services International (PSI) is calling on all affiliates and young workers to send a strong message that “Violence is NOT part of the job”.

Privatization Watch - 04/2018

22 July 2018
Latest issue of #PrivatizationWatch (04/2018) - The Global newsletter on privatization of public services around the world.

Cities are for people. Let’s put people first on the urban agenda.

12 July 2018

PSI General Secretary, Rosa Pavanelli, took the floor at the UN High Level Political Forum during the review of SDG 11 Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable calling for strong public policies and governance for housing and the protection of public spaces and commons from privatization and gentrification.

PSI General Secretary meets with Louise Arbour, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on International Migration

12 July 2018

Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, meets with Louise Arbour, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on International Migration, in New York on the sides of the final round of negotiations this week towards a UN Global Compact on Migration.

A Just Transition based on social justice, and labour rights

12 July 2018

PSI General Secretary, Rosa Pavanelli, took the floor at the UN High Level Political Forum during the review of SDG 7 Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Statements to the 8th Session of the General Assembly Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals

20 February 2014

Public Services International participated in the United Nations Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, which had its eighth and final stock-taking and information-gathering session 3-7 February 2014 (OWG8), in New York.

Wage-led Growth: An equitable strategy for economic recovery

13 February 2014
Wage-led Growth: An equitable strategy for economic recovery

This original and extensive study published by the ILO examines the causes and consequences associated with the falling wage share and rising inequality in income distribution, relating to both aggregate demand and labour productivity. It presents new empirical and econometric evidence regarding the economic causes and potential impact of changing income distribution.

Resolution 42: Palestinian solidarity: support for the Boycott Disinvestment and Sanctions campaign (BDS)

06 February 2014

The 29th World Congress of Public Services International (PSI), meeting in Durban, South Africa, on 27-30 November 2012

Human rights are not negotiable: support LGBT workers' rights!

05 February 2014
Russian LGBT logo for Olympic Games -  VIXIONS

Educational International (EI) and Public Services International (PSI) join LGBT groups and other human rights defenders in condemning increasing intolerance and attacks on the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people. Governments the world over appear to be abdicating their duty to protect and advance the human rights of all their citizens, including LGBT people.

Austerity – exposing the confidence myth

21 January 2014

Launching the Annual Growth Survey in November, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso told us: “The return of growth shows that our policies are working. That is why, in this year’s Annual Growth Survey, we keep the same five priorities as we had last year.” And a year earlier he said: "It is crucial to stick to our strategy of growth-friendly fiscal consolidation, economic reforms and targeted investments. This is the only way to restore confidence and create lasting growth.”

Presentation: Worker's Capital and Economic Organising

08 January 2014

Presentation at the PSI/FES Forum on Pensions and Social Security by Colin Meech, UNISON, UK.

Developments in pension fund investment and trade union responses

08 January 2014

Public sector pension funds are some of the largest of the capitalised funds in the world. The combined assets of these public sector funds stand at an estimated US $12 trillion. How these funds invest has a direct impact on the members of PSI affiliates and trade union members and workers in all other sectors in Asia/Pacific and across the world. This paper sets out a summary of the key developments in pension fund governance and the stewardship of the assets that are purchased, looking at the UK’s corporate governance and stewardship systems.

PSI Statement: December 18 - International Migrants Day

12 December 2013

Public Services International joins the international community in commemorating the millions of migrant workers and their families all over the world and re-affirming our commitment to uphold their dignity and human rights.

Impacts of the financial and economic crisis and of austerity measures on health-care systems, on the health workforce and on patients in Europe

05 December 2013

This paper describes the impact of the financial and economic crisis, as well as austerity measures on the health care systems, the health workforce and patients.

Public Services for the Public Good: PSI statement on the Trade In Services Agreement (TISA)

02 December 2013

Universal quality public services and decent work are goals of economic development, to which international trade is but a means. Trade treaty rules should not force privatisation, nor interfere with the restoration or expansion of public services, where experiments with private provision fail or are rejected by democratically-elected governments. Trade treaties must not close policy space or inhibit innovation in public service provision.

Global Unions Statement of Priorities for the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference

28 November 2013

In the wake of the on-going economic crisis brought on in no small measure by the same de-regulatory forces that champion trade liberalisation, there is a real opportunity for the global community to re-think existing trade rules and arrangements. World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) accords have adversely impacted farmers and workers and they have reduced policy and regulatory space needed to actively promote decent jobs and quality public services.

PSI Statement on the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference

27 November 2013

The results of decades of corporate-led globalisation are clear for the majority of the world. Unemployment continues to afflict millions and is especially acute for the world’s youth. Inequality is growing and quality public services and labour rights are being undermined. Liberalisation of and financial speculation in commodities markets has produced ruinous price fluctuations for food and shortages that create untold harm and avoidable loss of life. The global economic crisis caused by the reckless and unregulated actions of the private financial markets has created untold suffering for workers and is now being used as the reason to implement punitive and misguided austerity programmes.

Communiqué: Public Services International Steering Committee SC-17

25 November 2013
PSI Steering Committee and staff, November 2013

Angered by the continuing attacks on public services and the workers who provide these services, distressed by the rising inequality across the world and the failure of the current economic system to provide jobs, particularly for young people, the Steering Committee reiterated its commitments to the 2013-2017 Programme of Action “Social Justice through Quality Public Services” and endorsed priority actions for 2014.

Work-related violence and its integration into existing surveys

20 November 2013

Statistical measurement of violence at the workplace has been neglected, states a new ILO report presented at the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, held in Geneva, 2-11 October 2013.

Posters: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

18 November 2013
PSI violence against women poster

PSI calls on all its affiliate members, men and women, to make a pledge to end violence against women and girls, at each of their workplaces around the globe. Use these posters available in eight languages