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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.

From challenge to success – Organising hospitals in the Philippines

08 October 2018

PSI has been providing solidarity to the Alliance of Filipino Workers (AFW) to build power by organising new members. PSI asked its affiliate the SEIU, the largest health sector trade union in the USA, to partner with the AFW to transform their approach to growth amongst hospital workers with positive results now emerging.

Decent Work’s 10th anniversary – JUST DO IT!

06 October 2018

On 7 October 2018 we “celebrate” the 10th anniversary of the World Day for Decent Work (WDDW): 10 years that unions across the world have been fighting to place decent work at the centre of government policies, to bring back economic growth that puts people first – people over profit.

Four-day working week for all is a realistic goal this century, unions say

20 September 2018

Advances in technology mean that a four-day working week is a realistic goal for most people by the end of this century, the leader of the UK's trade union movement has said. She gets support from the biggest trade union in Norway, Fagforbundet, saying “our backdrop is the same” and there is a great “need for reorganizing our working hours”.

Forced labor down in spring cotton work, systemic problems remain

11 September 2018

For the first time in years, public sector workers were not forcibly mobilized to plant and weed cotton in Uzbekistan in spring 2018, although serious structural problems in the cotton sector threaten to undermine this development. The Uzbek-German Forum, a Cotton Campaign member, released these findings in a report published today.

Indonesia: Unfair dismissal of trade union leader

07 September 2018

PSI demands the immediate reinstatement of Idris Idham, President of PSI’s Indonesian affiliate the Pharmaceutical and Health Workers Union (PHWU), who was unfairly dismissed in direct contravention of international law and Indonesia’s obligations. PSI has sent a letter to Hanif Dhakiri, the current Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia.

Norwegian affiliate press charges against private health company

21 August 2018
Mette Nord, President of Fagforbundet.

"This is a very serious matter, where a large and professional private health company has taken advantage of our members," says Mette Nord, President of Fagforbundet.

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 Workers' Day - 1 May 2013

26 April 2013
PSI Poster for 1 May 2013

Your future is in public hands - quality public services for all!


The international labour movement celebrates 1 May in memory of the activists who were killed in the Haymarket massacre of 1886 while demonstrating for the eight-hour work day. Today, using the pretext of the economic and financial crises, neo-liberal forces around the world are determined to eliminate workers’ right to bargain collectively and hard-won social and labour rights. Workers and our communities are uniting to turn back the wave of measures being used to increase privatisation, claw back public spending, reduce the size and role of the state, and to attack social dialogue and collective bargaining in public sector workplaces.

Voices of the living and the dead cry out for justice in Guatemala

28 March 2013

Two women trade unionists, Santa Alvarado, member of PSI affiliate SNTSG, and Kira Zulueta Enriquez Mena, have been brutally murdered in two separate incidents in Guatemala. These follow on the murder of Carlos Hernández Mendoza, SNTSG union leader shot dead at 8:30 am on 8 March 2013 by two men on a motorcycle. Some five other members of SNTSG were also murdered in the last year as were several civil society activists, including agrarian reform and indigenous right activists.

More arrests of Turkish trade unionists - take action now!

27 February 2013
demonstrators in Turkey holding a KESK banner

Latest update: 72 members of the public sector union were released from jail on 10 April, some after nearly ten months of detention. The bad news is that the charges were not dropped and they all need to appear in court again in July. Another 15 union leaders, all of them women, are due to appear in court on 18 April.

Russia: A power engineer must not be poor

18 February 2013
November demonstrations in Moscow

Russian energy workers are in discussion with their employers concerning wages and working conditions. They request that PSI and its affiliates send messages of support and solidarity.

Mexico: Days of action for trade union rights

15 February 2013
Poster for days of action in Mexico

In association with other Global Union Federations, PSI is mobilising internationally for trade union rights in Mexico during the week 18-24 February 2013.

Korean union officials on hunger strike need your support

31 January 2013
Kim Jungnam KGEU President on hunger strike

Kim Jungnam, President of the Korean Government Employees’ Union, a PSI affiliate, launched a hunger strike on 15 January in the streets of Seoul outside the offices of the Presidential transition committee and vowed to continue his hunger strike until the issues facing his union are resolved.

Chad: Unionists sentenced to prison

28 September 2012

Three trade union leaders in Chad have been sentenced to 18 months in prison after denouncing the situation in the country. Another unionist was sentenced to three months in prison for having smiled in the courtroom. These PSI affiliate members are now asking for support from unions around the world.

PSI Solidarity message to Egyptian trade unions

10 September 2012
Tahir square February 2011

PSI sends solidarity message to Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions - EFITU.

Swaziland - Stop the crackdown on public workers

08 August 2012
Swaziland protestors photo by Garry Knight

The government of Swaziland is cracking down on public sector workers across the board. Civil servants, nurses, teachers and transport workers are all under threat. In support of their affiliates in Swaziland, Public Services International, Education International and the International Transport Workers' Federation have organised a joint protest action on Labourstart.

A gold medal for solidarity

25 July 2012

London's bus workers have won a huge victory. Now, it's the cleaners' turn.
Just three days before the opening of the Olympic games in London, London's bus drivers have won a big victory. As their union Unite reported, the workers "overwhelmingly voted to accept an offer of an Olympic award, meaning most workers will get £577 for the massive increase in workload over the Olympics.”

Send your protest against arrests in Turkey

02 July 2012
Image of riot police

The harassment and intimidation of trade unionists in Turkey continues: in the early morning hours on June 25, the Turkish police raided offices and houses of trade unionists in Turkey. 71 were detained, and eight of these are still under arrest, including the President of PSI-affiliated KESK, Lami Özgen.

PSI deeply concerned about Russia's situation in the World Trade Organisation

04 June 2012
Kreml

After 18 years of negotiations behind closed doors, Russia is expected to ratify and sign the WTO accession in July. PSI expresses deep concern about Russia's situation. In many countries the experience of members joining the WTO is narrowed access to public services, including through privatization, job losses, and deterioration of infrastructure and skills.

PSI demands justice for health workers in Bahrain

30 April 2012
demonstrators in Bahrain

At the meeting of PSI's Health and Social Care Services Task Force in Geneva on 20 April 2012, Public Services International released the attached statement demanding the release of physicians and nurses and cancellation of charges against health personnel in Bahrain.

Some signs of change in Botswana - but yet to see the results

17 April 2012
Trade unionists in Botswana

Earlier this year the government of Botswana categorically stated that there will be no collective bargaining for the period 2012/2013 for financial reasons. Now the government has withdrawn the letter.

15 public sector trade unionists have been arrested in Turkey

16 February 2012
MayDay 2010 - Turkey

On 13 February 2012, 15 women union leaders and activists belonging to PSI and EPSU affiliates SES (Trade Union of Public Employees in Health and Social Services), Tüm Bel Sen (Union of All Municipality Civil Servants) and BES (Trade Union of Public Administration Employees); as well as to Education International (EI) affiliate Egitim Sen and to the Confederation of Civil Servants Trade Unions, KESK, (affiliated to the ITUC), were arrested and dragged from their homes in early morning raids. The police also invaded the unions’ head offices as part of a so-called police investigation.

First BRICS Cycle of debates

04 September 2013

Statement from the trade union organizations of public sector workers affiliated to Public Services International (PSI), from Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa – BRICS.

Peru: Background briefing

26 August 2013

The following PSI document describes the current situation in Peru, especially with regards to trade unionism. It gives information on the new Civil Service Law approved on 4 July 2013 and on how this new legislation will affect workers.

Presentation by PSI General Secretary to the President of Guatemala

20 August 2013

For PSI, defending the rights of our affiliate trade union members in Guatemala is our top priority – and it will remain so until the situation for trade unionists and workers in this country improves.

EPSU Collective Barganing News July 2013

15 July 2013

Click here to read EPSU's July edition of Collective Bargaining News:  http://www.epsu.org/cob/513

Speech by PSI General Secretary in Nigeria

08 July 2013

Speech given by Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, during her official visit to Nigeria on 2-5 July 2013.

Campaign materials: The Route of Shame

12 June 2013

Campaign materials for the Route of Shame bicycle ride.

Brochure: "Your Future in Public Hands"

07 June 2013

A compilation of PSI statements and background information for use by PSI delegates at the International Labour Conference ILC

PSI Comments on ILO Report “Collective bargaining in the public service: a way forward”

23 May 2013

Public Services International (PSI) welcomes the report and the excellent work done by the Committee of Experts, considering that this is the first time that collective bargaining in the public service is being addressed in a General Survey. Trade union rights remain the top priority for public sector unions around the world. This is certainly a timely report that exposes many of the challenges that trade unions face in the public sector.

ILO General Survey: Collective bargaining in the public service – A way forward

17 May 2013

The main focus of the ILO General Survey is on collective bargaining rights in the public administration. It also covers a number of other subjects, including consultation, the civil and political rights of public sector employees, the facilities to be granted to trade union representatives, protection against acts of discrimination and interference, and dispute settlement mechanisms. However, Convention No. 154 applies not only to the public administration, but also to the whole of the public and private sectors. This explains that while the Survey focuses on the public administration for the subjects mentioned, it also refers more generally, and in less detail, to the situation in respect of law and practice in the private sector.

General Report of the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations

16 May 2013

The Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations is an independent body composed of legal experts charged with examining the application of ILO Conventions and Recommendations by ILO member States. The annual report of the Committee of Experts covers numerous matters related to the application of ILO standards.

ILO Manual on Collective Bargaining and Dispute Resolution in the Public Service

16 May 2013

This excellent ILO Manual seeks to provide examples on how different countries have developed successful mechanisms to prevent and resolve disputes in labour relations in the public service. It showcases effective ways to develop collective bargaining systems and provides approaches and formulas for dispute resolution.

Badges: Your Future in Public Hands

25 April 2013
PSI Your Future in Public Hands badges

Download PSI badge files for the "Your Future in Public Hands" campaign and create your own button badges.

Posters - 1 May 2013

24 April 2013
PSI May Day poster for 2013

Download PSI's posters for 1st May 2013 (PDF) in two colours and four languages. These are high-resolution images (3 MB)

Strategic Activities Report: PSI 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.

Working for the alternative: Implementing PSI's mandate in 2013 and beyond

19 March 2013

The 2012 PSI World Congress provided a framework for Public Services International's discussions and decisions. However, it is necessary to focus priorities. This document presents a detailed implementation plan for PSI's mandate in 2013 and beyond.