Indonesia - Government to take greater responsibility for Public Water provision

http://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/24/national-scene-clean-water-should-be-handled-state.html  

The Jakarta post has reported on the need for the Government to take greater responsibility for Public Water provision , and has highlight some of the real concerns in quality of water currently being delivered by Private Water Operators . The advice comes after the recent decision by the Indonesian Courts that the Government must take a greater role in public water provision , it followed the Court advising the Original Bill to legislate for private sector control of Water Resources was unconstitutional and that the Government had over all responsibility for natural resources via the Indonesia constitution. - comment by Greg McLean 

The article is relatively short and worth a quick read  http://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/24/national-scene-clean-water-should-be-handled-state.html  

The government should establish a state-owned company to manage water resources to guarantee people access to clean water, an analyst has said, after the recent annulment of a law that bans private monopolies on the resource.

“Clean water is a basic need. If it’s not a state firm then it should be a company owned by local administrations,” said Indonesia Resources Studies director Marwan Batubara on Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

The Constitutional Court recently repealed the 2004 law on water resources, arguing that it contravened the Constitution’s stipulation of state control of the country’s natural resources.

The repeal outlaws private monopolies on water resources, although it does not cancel current private regional concessions.

It also allows companies to buy only a certain volume of water for sale, and has banned sales of clean water abroad.

A number of private water concessions have resulted in clean water crises, resulting in hardships in everyday life and the agriculture sector. - See more at: http://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/24/national-scene-clean-water-should-be-handled-state.html#sthash.w0Q2GATd.dpuf

The government should establish a state-owned company to manage water resources to guarantee people access to clean water, an analyst has said, after the recent annulment of a law that bans private monopolies on the resource.

“Clean water is a basic need. If it’s not a state firm then it should be a company owned by local administrations,” said Indonesia Resources Studies director Marwan Batubara on Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

The Constitutional Court recently repealed the 2004 law on water resources, arguing that it contravened the Constitution’s stipulation of state control of the country’s natural resources.

The repeal outlaws private monopolies on water resources, although it does not cancel current private regional concessions.

It also allows companies to buy only a certain volume of water for sale, and has banned sales of clean water abroad.

A number of private water concessions have resulted in clean water crises, resulting in hardships in everyday life and the agriculture sector. - See more at: http://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/24/national-scene-clean-water-should-be-handled-state.html#sthash.w0Q2GATd.dpuf

Amalgamated Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union 1st Congress

 https://www.kptu.net/mboard.asp?Action=view&strBoardID=KPTU_PDSENG&intCategory=0&strSearchCategory=|s_name|s_subject|&strSearchWord=&intPage=1&intSeq=15192    On February 25, delegates of the former Korean Federation of Public Services and Transportation Workers’ Union held their 2015 Congress. At the Congress, KPTU delegates took bold steps towards strengthening their collective power in a difficult battle against the Korean government’s attack on workers and the public sector. Specifically, delegates passed a long-discussed proposal to transform from a loose federation into one single industrial union. Thus, this year’s Congress became the first Congress of the amalgamated ‘Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union’.

 

The KPTU’s reorganisation will rationalise a previously heterogeneous union fees system and affiliated-union structure. Most significantly, it will increase unity among a diverse membership by creating/strengthening ‘project groups’ based on similarity in sector, region and/or employment-type, which will serve as platforms for joint bargaining, campaigning and struggle.   

In addition to the reorganisation, KPTU delegates elected 6 vice presidents who, together with President Sangsu Jo and General Secretary Aeran Kim, elected through a full-membership vote at the end of 2014, form the first leadership of the amalgamated KPTU.

Delegates also passed an ambitious work plan for 2015. Keeping closely in line with the plans of our national centre, the Korean Confederation of Trade Union, the KPTU plans to concentrate protests and strike action against the government’s policies to expand labour flexibalisation, introduce performance-based wage scales and firing and speed-up privatisation and deregulation in April-June. KPTU will also work with the KCTU to build up for a general strike calling for decent jobs, quality public services and fundamental labour rights at the end of the year.  

KPTU delegates were emboldened in their deliberations by the outpouring of solidarity from unions abroad that graced the Congress. Congratulatory messages were sent by Public Services International General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli, International Transport Workers’ Federation Railway Section Chair Øystein Aslaksen and 17 national unions overseas. KPTU returns it sincere gratitude to all the international colleagues and friends who showed their solidarity and promised their continued support. We look forward very much to continuing to build and grow with you in 2015 and the years to come.     

Source: https://www.kptu.net/mboard.asp?Action=view&strBoardID=KPTU_PDSENG&intCategory=0&strSearchCategory=|s_name|s_subject|&strSearchWord=&intPage=1&intSeq=15192

Advice  from 

임월산 (Wol-san Liem)

The right to strike re-affirmed at the ILO

Read on-line: http://www.world-psi.org/en/right-strike-re-affirmed-ilo 

After more than two years of conflict, the right to strike was re-affirmed at the International Labour Organization on 25 February during the Tripartite Meeting on the Freedom of Association.

Employers brought the ILO’s supervisory mechanism to a standstill by challenging the existence of an international right to strike and the authority of the ILO. This conflict also endangered decades of ILO jurisprudence on the right to strike.

“Today governments and social partners have re-affirmed the right to strike as a fundamental right at work, and the role of the ILO supervisory mechanism,” said Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary. “These same governments are currently negotiating the Post 2015 Development Agenda and international trade agreements. We need to make sure that they show the same commitment to international labour standards across the board. While the recognition of an international right to strike is essential, attacks on the right to strike at national level are widespread. Therefore PSI will continue its campaign for the right to strike for all workers,” she added.

Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary, said, “Having created the crisis, employer groups and some governments were refusing to allow the issue to be taken to the International Court of Justice even though the ILO Constitution says it should be. We have now managed to negotiate a solution which protects the fundamental right of workers to take strike action, and allows the ILO to resume fully its work to supervise how governments respect their international labour standards obligations.”

Union and employer representatives have now reached an understanding at a special ILO meeting this week to end the impasse, based on recognition of the right to take industrial action, backed by explicit recognition from governments of the right to strike, linked to ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association. This agreement is the result of a successful international union mobilisation on 18 February in support of the right to strike and months of lobbying governments and employers around the world.

Steve Cotton, ITF General Secretary, commented, “There is no doubt that without the huge mobilisation efforts of the global union federations and trade union organisations worldwide, the basic human right to withdraw your labour could have been removed. It is down to all of our efforts that the attempt was defeated – and it will be down to all of us to ensure that it is protected." 

Outcome document of the Meeting: Tripartite Meeting on the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), in relation to the right to strike and the modalities and practices of strike action at national level.

Advice from 

Public Services International

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www.world-psi.org

communications@world-psi.org

ICLEI World Congress 2015 & the 7th World Water Forum!

In April 2015, ICLEI will hold two important events in South Korea: ICLEI World Congress 2015 from 8 to 12 April in Seoul, and the 4th Local and Regional Authorities Conference at the 7th World Water Forum from 13 to 14 April in Gyeongju. You are cordially invited to attend the conferences to share your expertise and exchange knowledge with participants from around the world. Please see below for more information:

Every three years, ICLEI members and partners gather at an ICLEI World Congress to showcase their actions over the period and discuss strategies for the following years. The ICLEI World Congress 2015 will be the first in 20 years to take place in Asia following Saitama, Japan in 1995, which will enhance cooperation among its East Asian Members. Each edition of the ICLEI World Congress sees representatives of local governments from all over the world equip themselves firsthand with the practical know-how of their top performing counterparts, all the while profiling their cities’ achievements in the spotlight.

For more information, visit ICLEI World Congress 2015 websites [English] [Chinese] [Korean].
Click here to download Congress Program >>> 

 

4th Local and Regional Authorities Conference at the 7th World Water Forum: Toward a roadmap for implementation

13 to 14 April, Gyeongju, South Korea

Organized in the framework of the 7th World Water Forum, the 4th International Conference of Local and Regional Authorities is dedicated to water management issues and challenges faced by local and regional governments. As part of the world’s largest event on water and services, it provides an unique opportunity for policy maker, government officers, operators, businesses and researchers from around the world to seek joint solutions to today’s water challenges at local and regional levels. Topics of focus include:

·       Implementation of the Istanbul Water Consensus (IWC)

·       Sustainable water management led by local governments in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

·       Multi-level water governance

·       Financing for better water and sanitation service

For more information, visit ICLEI East Asia website or the 7th World Water Forum website.
Click here to see Program Overview>>>

Advice from ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability

Count Us In! - ITUC Statement on International Women’s Day 2015

http://www.ituc-csi.org/count-us-in-ituc-statement-on In 2015, we celebrate International Women’s Day as women around the world gather to march for Women’s social and economic autonomy.

The 4th Global Action of the World March of Women will bring together women activists from every continent on the planet, united in their demands for a sustainable and caring economy and for social justice, peace and democracy.

Read the full statement

Photo: Solidarity Center

Advice from ITUC - http://www.ituc-csi.org/count-us-in-ituc-statement-on

Please share this great anti electricity privatisation video ...where Qld supports NSW ...only because it's electricity not League

http://youtu.be/7tpuirS6zrI  Please pass onto to all anywhere who oppose electricity privatization                

Just even clicking on shows support for the great work of Qld Unions. .....show your support by viewing this clip ..nothing more just have a look !!!!!
Thanks Neil from ASU Queensland well done great to see ASU State Branches supporting one another.

Railway workers bear the brunt of India’s labour reforms

http://www.equaltimes.org/railway-workers-bear-the-brunt-of#.VO_FOeEnL3d   Recent labour reforms by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government have increased the power of Indian employers to practice contract labour. 
Principally, by raising the threshold for the registration of contractors from 20 to 50 employees, the principal employer and contractor are even less accountable for larger swathes of the Indian workforce.

Following the government’s lead, Indian Railways – which is India’s largest employer with around 1.31 million permanent staff – is gearing up to outsource even more of its services into private hands.

(photo A woman carries a child and walks on a railway platform at a station in Hyderabad, India.
(AP/Mahesh Kumar A.) 

Full story at http://www.equaltimes.org/railway-workers-bear-the-brunt-of#.VO_FOeEnL3d   

Global Day of action sends a strong signal to employers around the world – hands off our right to strike!

http://www.world-psi.org/en/global-day-action-right-strike-sends-strong-signal-employers-around-world-hands-our-right-strike PSI affiliates joined the ITUC, ITF, EI and other Global Unions’ affiliates around the world for the Global Day of Action for the Right to Strike on 18 February. From Japan, Korea, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Russia, Turkey, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Botswana, South Africa, Canada, to Argentina and Columbia and in many other countries, workers joined actions in defence of the right to strike.

The day of action took place a few weeks before the ILO Governing Body has to take a decision, in March 2015, on the resolution of a conflict that has had a chilling effect on the ILO supervisory mechanism since 2012. At the same time, governments are negotiating the Post 2015 Development Agenda.

Rosa Pavanelli, general secretary of PSI says: ”We live in a globalized economy and workers have to be strong and united in their action. Solidarity is more important now than ever before, when trade union and workers’ rights are being attacked on all fronts. The day of action gives a clear signal to employers around the world – hands off our right to strike.”

While some unions organized mass demonstrations and pickets, others organized public hearings, workplace protests, petitions and press conferences to expose the role of their national employers’ organizations and raise awareness on this global attack on democracy.

Since June 2012, employers have been challenging the existence of an international right to strike and the authority of the ILO and its supervisory mechanism. These attacks come at a time when employers and governments implement austerity measures and “structural reform programmes”, the growth of precarious jobs is rampant and social protests are criminalized with the intent to silence workers and their demands for decent jobs and social protection. Without the right to strike, collective bargaining is nothing more than begging. Workers must defend and protect an international system based on human rights and international labour standards and prevent it being replaced by free trade agreements and ad-hoc private tribunals (investor-state dispute settlement or ISDS) that prioritize the interests of multinational companies over the public good and democracy.

PSI will continue to fight for the right to strike, together with its affiliates and the ITUC, ITF, EI and other global unions.

Advice from PSI 

PSI Affiliates - before Australian Parliamentary (Senate) Committee ' saying privatization just not worth it ".

Yesterday in Sydney, PSI Australian Affiliates the ASU / ETU (CEPU) / NSW NSWNMA along with Unions NSW and other Unions held a round table discussion with the Chair and the Committee of the Australian Parliament (Senate),  examining the Federal Government proposal to offer State Governments an incentive payment to ' privatize state owned assets ' . 

The National Government proposal is highly controversial as it will see State Governments loose long term revenue from current state owned corporations such as electricity and place privatization of anything from schools to hospitals on the agenda . In the trade off for short term infrastructure spend being pushed by Business and Conservative Governments.

In the lead up to Round Table between the Senate Committee and the National and State Unions, PSI affiliates lodged separate submissions to concentrate on their key areas of concern. But all had one thing in common , total opposition to privatization , keeping public assets in public hands and the losers in privatization the citizens of Australia .

Information on the inquiry can be located at   http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/Privatisation_2014/Public_Hearings  

PSI affiliate's Submissions can be located at -

Australian Services Union http://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=5f4797fd-1784-4983-a385-539e3f88cc3b&subId=303065

Electrical Trades Union  (CEPU) http://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=00c0f1ac-28b7-4876-ab34-f014caf71ae3&subId=303219

NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association  
http://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=9b211ed2-2f00-4a93-97e5-23b4ef4dc636&subId=303298

PSI affiliate campaigns against privatization - Pakistan

Thousand of Elecy/WAPDA Workers along with Elecy. Engineers held a mass Rally to-day 18^th February, 2015 outside Islamabad PRESS CLUB under the aegis of "ALL PAKISTAN WAPDA HYDRO ELECTRIC WORKERS UNION" C.B.A. along Electricity Engineers Association against the present Government Move to privatize national Public Utility Elecy. against the public interest. The Protestors participated from all the provinces of the country and had been carrying National and Red Flags and Banners condemning the proposed Privatization of Essential need of Elecy. of the citizens of Pakistan on the behest of the World Bank highlighting that the experience of privatization of Eecy. in Rawalpindi and Multan Elecy. Companies had failed even in the cities. That is why those were handed over to WAPDA while Karachi Elecy. Company despite receiving 650 Megawatts cheaper Elecy. from WAPDA daily and receiving the billions of rupees every year as subsidy from Federal Government. It had neither overcome load shedding, nor high cost of elecy. while wherein it has been keeping its Thermal Power Houses closed to earn double profit which had been even acknowledged by the Federal Minister Water & Power before the Senate of Pakistan other Months. The mass rally was held despite rain and the workers along with Engineers and held a Mass Protest against Privatization and took out Protest Procession. The Veteran Trade Union Leader Mr. Khurshid Ahmed General Secretary of the Union along with Abdul Latif Nizamani President and Gohar Taj Chairman highlighted that it is STATE Responsibility to provide basic need of Elecy. under the Constitution to the Citizens, Agriculture, Industrial, Commerce, therefore its privatization would not only be against the Constitution, but also, the declaration of the Father of the nation which had declared that all Public Utilities are to be run under Public Sector in the Public Interest. They demanded that the Government should develop cheaper sources of Elecy. Generation alike Hydel & Gas and Coal instead of relying on Furnace Oil Private Thermal Power House and get recovered 200 billion U.S. dollars from Swiss Banks deposited by the Federal Lords and Capitalists and Politicians as declared by the Federal Finance Minister and impose taxes upon Feudal Lords and capitalists and Politician whose majority did not pay any tax while 80% Tax Payers are wage earners. They demanded that the Government should introduce for reaching reforms to raise efficiency of those Elecy. Utilities instead of handing over to the Private Board of Director who had no interest. They demanded to the Prime Minister to hold dialogue with the Union and discuss these issues in the National Assembly and Senate alike other country instead of pursuing Privatization Policy of National Public Utilities alike Elecy, Railway, Oil & Gas, P.I.A. , Steel Mill and National Bank of Pakistan which would give rise Inter Provincial dispute. They warned , in case no response from the Government, they would be compelled to take industrial action.

The meeting was also addressed by Dilawar Khan President Engineers Association, Javed Baloch Chairman (Islamabad), Haji Zahir Gul Secretary & Iqbal Khan (Peshawar). Iqbal Dar (Gujranwalsa), Rana Ghulam Jaffar (Faisalabad), Ch. Ghulam Rasool (Multan), Iqbal Qaim Khani (Hyderabad Sind), Haji Abdul Hayee (Quetta), Mazhar Mateen, Rana Shakoor (Lahore) and the representatives of Railway, P.I.A, Oil & Gas, National Bank of Pakistan who extended full support of Elecy. /WAPDA Workers.

Mr. Khurshid Shah Leader of Opposition in National Assembly also addressed the Rally of the Workers and declared that their Party is against Privatization of Elecy. and other Public Utilities and fully Stand behind the just struggle of the working class and promise to raise this issue in National Assembly and Senate of Pakistan.

                                                                                                                                                                Secretary   Information  0333-4276811 or news item supplied by 

Osama  Tariq

All  Pakistan  Wapda  Hydro  Electric  Workers  Union  CBA

Bukhtiar  Labour  Hall  28 Nisbet  Road  Lahore.

0333-4276811

Dated  18  Febrauary   2015

Australia - NSW NOT FOR SALE’ NSW union movement launches anti-privatisation campaign in Newcastle.

http://youtu.be/4exTNoA0R8E     The NSW union movement will today officially launch its  election campaign in Newcastle targeting the Baird Government’s privatisation agenda.

Entitled ‘NSW Not For Sale’ the campaign includes strategic door knocking, phone and digital campaigning, as well as radio and television advertisements which began airing over the weekend.(http://youtu.be/4exTNoA0R8E).
The campaign from NSW unions follows similar campaigns in Victoria and Queensland which helped defeat pro-privatisation governments in recent months.Unions NSW Secretary Mark Lennon said unemployment figures released last week showed the Liberals and Nationals had neglected Newcastle and the Hunter ever since they came to power.“Newcastle and the Hunter are heading for an unemployment crisis under Mike Baird,” Mr Lennon said.“Unemployment in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie is 8.3 per cent --  across the rest of the Hunter it’s 7.9 per cent and it’s vital that the State government starts investing in more jobs instead of selling off the farm.”The Liberal and National parties today seem to have one overriding agenda - and that’s to flog off the public’s vital assets to the private sector as quickly as possible,” Mr Lennon said.
“There are thousands of electricity workers living in Newcastle and the Hunter and many of them will face the axe if Mike Baird sells off the electricity network,” he said. “We are seeing the Americanisation of the public health system, which is putting nurse-to-patient ratios and other services at risk.“The government is refusing to rule out whether the new Maitland Hospital will be a model similar to the new Northern Beaches Hospital which will be privately owned and operated.“The Liberals are also working on plans to shut down the hospital at Stockton and by relinquishing their responsibility to provide government funded disability services thousands of disability workers will be transferred to the private sector.“We have seen TAFE undermined and eroded by private sector competitors, resulting in fees doubling for many courses. Under the NSW Liberals a two-year diploma in Electrical Engineering, for example, has increased from $3000 to $8000, while a Certificate III in bricklaying has gone from $1700 to $3600.”Mr Lennon said selling off electricity poles and wires won’t help workers thrown onto the unemployment queues and the unions’ campaign would be unrelenting in the lead up to polling day.“We know what works - and that’s real workers engaging with real voters. We already have a thousand volunteers engaging with people in the electorate about privatisation, and we only plan to ramp up from here,” Mr Lennon said.“The undeniable fact is that the people of NSW do not want the Baird Government’s privatisation agenda. It is our job to make sure that message gets through loud and clear during the election campaign.”The ad campaign is jointly funded by Unions NSW, ETU, HSU, NSWTF, and the USU. (both ETU and USU are PSI affiliates through their National unions  ETU and ASU )  

Further comment: Mark Lennon  +61 427 231 800 or Saoirse Connolly  +61 437 048 169

Tokyo Rengo .

Meetings have been held today in Sydney with were held with representatives of Tokyo Rengo, through PSI affiliate the ASU USB . The meetings were part of 25 year exchange program between UNIONS NSW and Tokyo Rengo . 

The exchange program allowed for a range of discussions from Trade / TPPA / changes facing workers in the global economy as well as Unions structures, operations and membership structures . 

Discussions on the role of the international union movement as well as the global union Federations. Representatives attending included - ANDO Tetsuo Mr – Vice President of Rengo Tokyo/ Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers' Unions Tokyo. YUMOTO Kazuaki Mr - An executive committee member of Rengo Tokyo / Tokyo Office of All Mint Labour Union .KONDO Yasushi Mr - Vice general secretary of Rengo Tokyo / Tokyo Office of General Federation of Private Railway & Bus Workers' Unions of Japan.ISHIZUKA Hiroko Ms - An executive committee member of Tokyo Office of The Federation of Electric Power Related Industry Workers' Unions of Japan

Europe - pay public vs private - social rights committee backs unions - global action day right to strike - advice from EPSU

Europe	Conference debates public and private sector pay trends Over 80 trade unionists from 20 countries took part in EPSU’s collective bargaining and social dialogue conference on 13-14 January. A central theme on the first day included long-term developments in public sector pay and comparisons with the private sector. The conference also included a lively debate on minimum wages, a discussion about working time developments and a session on the structural reforms that the European Commission and European Central Bank want to see implemented across Europe. Read more at > EPSU (EN)
Spain	Council of Europe backs unions’ claims against government The Council of Europe’s Committee of Social Rights has supported many of the claims of violations of trade union rights brought by the CCOO and UGT union confederations against the government. The Committee says that the government has infringed the European Social Charter in relation to freedom of association; the right to strike; the level of the minimum wage; overtime pay; working time; holiday entitlement and notice periods. Overall the Committee notes seven breaches Spain’s obligations under the charter. However, it also has reserved its opinion on various matters on which the government has not provided enough information to decide. Read more at > CCOO (ES) And at > UGT (ES) And at > Council of Europe (EN)
Europe	Global action day on right to strike - 18 February The ITUC global union confederation has called a day of action on 18 February to reassert the right to strike. The initiative has been taken as employers’ group at the International Labour Conference in June 2014 denied that that the right to strike forms part of ILO Convention 87, thus undermining decades of jurisprudence and the application of international law. The Workers’ Group unanimously rejected the demands of the Employers’ group. The conflict over the right to strike has been referred to ILO’s Governing Body, which should make a decision in May this year and could could call on the International Court of Justice to produce an advisory opinion and put an end to the dispute. Read more at > ITUC (EN, DE, FR, ES) And at > PSI (EN, FR, ES)

Public services are essential for economic growth Economic models that promote labour flexibility and privatisation are destined to fail

Read on-line : http://www.world-psi.org/en/public-services-are-essential-economic-growth

 PSI, 12 February 2015 -  “There are many reasons why public services are essential for economic growth, while other models promoting cuts in public spending and  favouring the private interest inevitably tend to fail.”

This is how Rosa Pavanelli, general secretary of Public Services International (PSI), addressed a panel discussion about “G20 economic growth modelling”, during the high-level meetings between the Global Unions Federations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, on 11 February in Washington.
 

“In circumstances of recession and under-employment, public sector spending has a clear stimulus effect,” said Pavanelli.

 

“We have known this for a long time and anyone who has witnessed the impact of austerity measures in Europe can acknowledge this today. Even the IMF has eventually reckoned the importance of public spending as a multiplier.”

 

“In addition to that, public services contribute to labour productivity, to less inequality, to macro-economic stability necessary for growth, and especially guard against shocks. The Ebola crisis is a clear example of the effects on the economy at large of not investing in public, universal health care services.”

PSI general secretary highlighted that IFIs are still promoting 'economic growth models' that aim to favour the private interest instead of protecting the general interest and common goods. Labour reforms that reduce workers’ rights, jobs stability, and fiscal stimulus that legalise tax avoidance for foreign investors, particularly multinational enterprises, have worsened the situation instead of boosting the recovery. Amongst those models, promoted also by the World Bank, the G20, the OECD, as well as the United Nations for Sustainable Development Goals, are the Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
 

“There is plenty of evidence that PPPs are more expensive and far less efficient, they often create corruption, causing a serious damage to the economy and to taxpayers, not to mention that they often do not help to protect the environment and do not ensure universal access to quality public services,” said Pavanelli.

Need for growth, jobs and higher wages

At the discussion table, IMF economic counsellor Olivier Blanchard presented the latest World Economic Outlook, noting that despite a decrease in oil price and inflation, the Fund made further downward revisions to potential growth in 2015, especially in emerging markets.
 

“This will have implications for employment, with an improvement for labour markets, even if a large jobs gaps remains, with persistent low wages,” explained Blanchard.

 

According to William Spriggs, chief economist to the AFL-CIO, there is wide concern in the United States about scarce labour force participation and decreasing wages, with serious inequality consequences.

John Evans, general secretary of the OECD Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC), also stressed the urgency to intervene on employment and wages, “the actual question is how to start more public infrastructure investment and so boost growth, and how those measures can help wealth redistribution. In this regards, collective bargaining cannot but be seen as a resource and a positive factor.”

Hilma Mote, ITUC Africa, underlined the need for the IMF to support investment in infrastructure for development, especially in transport, energy and ICT in order to diversify the economy and increase productivity.
 

“I like the IMF call for structural reforms but for reforms that serve the needs and aspirations of the African people,” said Mote.

“Africa should stop feeding the growth of other countries at the expense of its own.”

Public Services International (PSI) is a global trade union federation representing 20 million working women and men who deliver vital public services in 150 countries. PSI champions human rights, advocates for social justice and promotes universal access to quality public services. PSI works with the United Nations system and in partnership with labour, civil society and other organisations. 

EPSU - Austria Real increase in pay in electricity sector

Austria

After two bargaining rounds unions and employers in the electricity sector negotiated a new collective agreement that comes into effect on 1 February. The 16000 workers in the industry will get a pay rise of between 1.9% and 2.1% with the higher increase for lower paid workers. Inflation in 2014 averaged 1.7% but was 1.0% in the year to December 2014. The agreement also includes provisions for continued discussions related to shift work and arduous work in relation to working lives. Read more > GPA-djp (DE)

Press Release - from WAPDA Pakistan

Federal Minister for Water & Power, Government of Pakistan would recommend to the Prime Minister of Pakistan not to privatize National Public Utility of Electricity, but let its efficiency and transparency be developed and strengthened for provision of Better Services to the electricity consumers. The Government would also take effective measures to strengthen its control to check mismanagement and malpractice and ensure safe working conditions to the workers and Engineers during the performance of their duties against miscreants who commit theft of energy and committing lawlessness. The employees should make success the campaign to check the pilferage of electricity and recovery of the lawful dues of electricity to make electricity companies financially viable. These assurances were given by Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Federal Minister for Water & Power in a bilateral meeting held with the representatives of All Pakistan WAPDA Hydro Electric Workers Union (CBA) alongwith Engineers Association on 29™ January, 2015 in the afternoon at Pak Secretariat, Islamabad. He further directed to the Management of DISCOs to provide the Safety Equipment in order to save the field workers against accidents and get paid Rs. 2.5 Millions as Ex-Gratia Grant to the dependents of the deceased workers who met with fatal accidents during course of their official duties and recruit their children. The meeting was also participated by M/s. Umer Rasool, Additional Secretary (Power)/Managing Director (PEPCO), Nasir Jameel Additional Secretary (Water) Ministry of Water & Power, Saeed Ahmad, GM (HR) PEPCO and Muhammad Saleem, GM (R&CO) PEPCO while the union was represented by Veteran Trade Union Leader Mr. Khurshid Ahmad General Secretary alongwith M/s. Abdul Latif Nizamani, President, Haji Muhammad Ramzan Achakzai, Joint President, Gohar Taj, Chairman, Javed Iqbal Baloch (Islamabad), Sarfraz Hundal (Faisalabad), Wali-ur-Rehman Khan (Gujranwala), Ch. Ghulam Rasool (Multan), Mateen Zafar (Lahore), Osama Tariq, Dilawar Khan (NTDC) other representatives including M/s. Dilawar Shah, President, Amjad Hussain Nagra, Secretary and other representatives of Engineers Association. Earlier the union representatives demanded that National Public Utility of Electricity should not be privatized instead of that administrative reforms may be introduced to raise their efficiency and develop the transparent management and appointment of independent Members of Board of Directors of Corporatized Companies in accordance with the judgment of the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan on the principle of professional competence and integrity and urged to Federal Minister to get provided the security be provided to the field Workers and Engineers while performing their duties against the miscreant and lawlessness elements as well as get implemented the accepted demands of the workers including one month bonus as Honouraria to the employees of WAPDA/PEPCO and remaining Corporatized Companies.

 Osama  Tariq

All Pakistan  Wapda  Hydro  Electric  Workers  Union  C.B.A

Bukhtiar  Labour  Hall  28,Nisbet  Road Lahore  Pakistan.

Phone # 37222192-37229419

Fax:- 0092-42-37239529

E-Mail:-  pwf@brain.net.pk 

Secretary   Information 333-4276811

More citizens saying no to electricity privatisation in the State of New South Wales in Australia - as the State Government Elections loom !!

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/support-falling-for-mike-bairds-electricity-privatisation-plan-despite-20-billion-infrastructure-promise-20150209-139iqh.html this article in the Sydney Morning Herald, shows that citizens are opposed to electricity privatisation , in the lead up to the NSW State Elections ,its high quality article and one worth reading and circulating. 

PSI affiliates are part of this important campaign.  

Update from Pryas Energy Group India

The 3rd Girish Sant Memorial Annual Lecture titled "Accountable Regulators: a Key Requirement for Good Governance & Consumer Protection" will be delivered by Ms. Sucheta Dalal on February 14th 2015 at 6:15 pm in Pune, India. For further details, please see this page.
A Commentary On The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014 This commentary, on the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014 introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 19, 2014 by the Minister of Power, puts forth some preliminary analysis of the key changes being proposed, their implication based on experience of the past ten years of the 2003 act implementation, along with some possible alternativs and suggestions. Read More Exploring options for the Indian coal sector The coal sector in India is about to undergo some significant changes. Prayas (Energy Group) organized a round-table discussion in New Delhi on December 1, 2014 on the possible future options for the Indian coal sector by bringing in various stakeholders such as representatives from the coal and power sectors, researchers on socio-environmental issues, trade union leaders and energy policy analysts Read More   An Assessment of Energy Data Management in India Effective policy formulation in the energy sector relies on rigorous analysis of readily available, accurate, reliable and comprehensive data. Availability of such data requires institutional mechanisms and processes to collect, process and disseminate data in a timely manner. Read More     Report on Prayas Round Table on Gender and Electricity Prayas (Energy Group) organised a round table on “Gender and Electricity” on the 26th of September 2014 at New Delhi. The objective was to explore how a specific focus on gender in grid and grid interactive systems can improve electricity supply and end-use. Read More      Articles An opinion piece that appeared in the Indian Express on 23rd January, 2015 in the context of the possibility of a high-profile joint statement on energy and climate policy between India and the US during President Obama's visit to India in January 2015. Read More Review of Sunila Kale's book (Electrifying India – Regional Political Economies of Development) published in the 27th December 2014 issue of EPW. Read More Critique of the recently passed Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill published in the 17th December 2014 edition of Economic Times. Read More Comments and feedback provided by Prayas Comments on Draft Rules proposed under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2014 Submission during the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission suo-moto tariff process for the year 2014-15  Feedback regarding Draft Model Revenue Sharing Contract India Energy Security Scenarios 2047 "India Energy Security Scenarios 2047" is an online tool available at www.indiaenergy.gov.in developed by the Planning Commission, GoI. The first version of the tool was launched in early 2014, while the second version with some additional features is expected to be launched soon. Read More
We look forward to your feedback and comments.
Thank You,
Prayas (Energy Group)