Countdown to PSI’s Fair taxes Social Protection Floor 29th World Congress for the common good affordable for all countries 19-1 - November 2012 - PUBLIC SERVICES INTERNATIONAL www.world-psi.org Working in the people’s interest >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Feature contents Editorial: Working in the people’s interest 3 Beyond rio+20 4 tax justice – not tax havens 6 Government by, for, and of the people 8 countdown to Psi’s 29th World congress 9 south africa news 12 migrant Desk initiative 15 social Protection floor 20 Egypt’s revolution far from over 22 turkish authorities target trade unions 23 Why unions must reach out to young people 25 italian water campaign wins 26 fukushima today 29 trade union rights 32 Public services international BP 9, 01211 Ferney-Voltaire Cedex, France Tel: +33 4 50 40 64 64 Fax: +33 4 50 40 73 20 Email: [email protected] www.world-psi.org President: Dave Prentis General secretary: Peter Waldorff Editor: Teresa Marshall Photographers: Jesse Morgan, Erivan Dantas Publication coordinator: Caroline Dodd-Taleb Graphic Designer: Jean-Pierre Dauly contributing Writers: PSI staff and Soren Bech, Violeta P. Corral, Rachel Marusek Hermann, Jeffrey Hoff, Yasushi Konno *This issue features a number of stories by independent journalists commissioned through a new editorial collaboration between PSI and the renowned New Internationalist magazine. ni coordinating Editor: Dinyar Godrej ni Writers: James Ceronsky, Cam McGrath, Tim Baster, Isabelle Merminod, Jonathan Migneault, Raphael Adeniran, Giuliana Sgrena Signed articles represent the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of PSI. cover: A Robin Hood Tax for a Sustainable World Brazilian youth show their support for the fi nancial transactions tax campaign promoted by PSI and allies, People’s Summit, Rio, Brazil,19 June 2012 Photo credit: Erivan Dantas for PSI issn: 1023-3431 Printer: Imprimerie VILLIÈRE 74160 Beaumont, France focus on public services – volume 19, issue 1, november 2012. Published by Public services international www.QPSActionNow.org Produced by union labour Posters by: Favianna Rodriguez 2 FOCUS on public services | www.world-psi.org Working in the people’s interest greatly look forward to the 29th World Congress of Public Services I International which will be held at the end of November in Dur- ban, South Africa. PSI affiliate leaders from around the world will gather together under our Congress banner In the people’s interest. We will review the unprecedented challenges our unions have faced over the past five years, and measure the effectiveness of our Editorial responses. Together we will map out global strategies to implement PSI’s Programme of Action over the next five years. This is a pivotal moment in time. It is a blight on our societies if a few people are obscenely rich while others make their homes in worn-out sleeping bags on our streets. It’s so obviously wrong if the richest 1 percent pay a lower tax rate Peter Waldorff than everyone else. PSI General Secretary And it is blatantly unfair when that richest 1 percent is writing the corporate and financial laws, is allowed unfettered election spend- ing ability, and controls the mainstream media outlets that shape public opinion. Along with ensuring that our members receive fair wages and safe working conditions, our struggle is for the common good. At Con- gress 2012, we will reaffirm our collective commitment to ensuring that healthcare, education and the right to clean water and sanita- tion are implemented as universal rights. We are determined to attain equality for women, eliminate pov- erty and inequity, and build just, sustainable, democratic societies. We will use our Programme of Action to strengthen our efforts to increase good governance and oppose corruption. As the stories in this issue of Focus magazine detail, these are the reasons why PSI is working with the Council of Global Unions to broaden the Quality Public Services-Action Now! campaign and lob- by for a financial transactions tax – also known as a Robin Hood Tax. It’s why we joined with allies to fight back privatisation and ad- vance more sustainable visions at the Alternative Water Forum in Marseille, France and at the Rio+20 Earth Summit in Brazil. It’s why we’ve spoken out in solidarity this year on behalf of mem- bers on hunger strike in Algeria, members imprisoned in Turkey, and members whose lives have been threatened in Nigeria. And it’s why we joined in mourning for the Marikana Lonmin min- ers who were massacred in South Africa, and why we share in the heartfelt calls for healing, justice and peace there. And it’s why we brought together an international team of senior PSI affiliate union communicators to work with Wisconsin members this year, to share their stories around the world. Because working people have trade union rights, clearly outlined under International Labour Organisation conventions. And because we will do our utmost to defend these rights. In the daily struggle to defend public services and the rights of our members, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that we also have an unprecedented opportunity to effect positive change. The times call for bold action guided by a strong vision. Quality public services are the key to building civil societies where people work together for the benefit of the whole community, not just the wealthy. Our strength is working together, for the common good. ❚ FOCUS on public services | Issue 19-1 | November 2012 3 PSI PSI affiliate leaders from Peru, Columbia and Uruguay joined Brazil’s Bancarios workers and Rio+20 delegates from 30 countries in a high-profile Robin Hood Tax for a Sustainable World rally in Rio’s financial district, 19 June. See Rio+20 photos and video at: www.world-psi.org/rio20 Beyond Rio+20: Earth’s citizens must take action he general failure of the Rio+20 subsidies, protecting oceans, promoting nities, the right to water was included TEarth Summit presents threats and public services, and other issues critical in the text – in itself a significant opportunities for public service unions. to sustainable development. achievement given the opposition from The threats include the vacuum At best, Rio+20 sets in motion fur- a number of powerful countries, includ- caused by incapable and unwilling gov- ther negotiations. At worst, Rio+20 is ing Canada and the USA. ernments, both nationally and globally. an abdication by governments of many Another priority was to promote a Into this space are stepping the corpo- of the original precepts of the 1992 strong public service message in the rations, which have targeted control of Earth Summit – turning their back on ITUC-TUCA Workers’ Assembly. PSI rep- public services as their next big source civil society participation, increased resentatives advocated against privati- of profits. global governance to resolve global sation, and in favour of a Social Protec- The opportunities arise from the problems, and wealthy countries pro- tion Floor, quality public services, and legitimate outrage of working people viding financial assistance. the need for fair taxation to fund public and our communities at being treated The divide between developing and services. Quality public services are a so poorly. This may spur local organis- developed countries remained wide vital component in addressing sustaina- ing, and greater awareness of the role throughout the negotiations. Clearly, bility challenges, creating just societies, of public services in supporting social every country was out to protect its in- and generating much-needed jobs. justice and sustainable development. terests. Missing was a sense of common A related priority throughout Global campaigns could rise in promi- purpose and direction. Rio+20 proceedings was to strengthen nence to push for a financial transac- In addition, the final text demon- global civil society partnerships and tions tax, regulation of the financial strates how significantly corporations give international profile to the fi- sector, an end to corporate capture of have co-opted national governments nancial transactions tax (Robin Hood public institutions, and implementation and the United Nations. There is no Tax) campaign and the Quality Public of the human right to water. meaningful attempt to regulate or con- Services-Action Now! campaign. This Twenty years after the hopes in- trol corporate activities. Indeed, the was accomplished through a series of spired by the first Earth Summit, text actively promotes public-private high-profile public events that PSI co- Rio+20 failed to deliver a political partnerships as the only “commend- organised during Rio+20. ❚ vision and action programme to deal able” model. with the major issues of sustainability. PSI’s strongest sector focus in Rio David Boys, PSI Utilities Officer and A ‘compromise’ text, imposed at the last was to preserve the right to water Teresa Marshall, PSI Communications moment by the Brazilian government, language in the official text and to Coordinator was described by 1,000 non-profit strengthen our campaigning and links groups and trade unions – including with civil society through our work at PSI, as “the future we don’t want.” They the parallel People’s Summit. cited failures on removing fossil fuel Importantly for PSI and our commu- 4 FOCUS on public services | www.world-psi.org NNU Nurses rally for a Robin Hood Tax in Chicago during G8 meetings in May. NationalQuality Nurses Public United Services-Action has successfully lobbied to have related legislation introduced in the USA. PSI Now! campaign representatives also supported Robin Hood Tax actions at the World AIDS Forum in July. Busting the myths about the Robin Hood Tax financial transactions tax – also known as a Robin Hood one percent on bonds and equities, and even less on other A Tax – is winning more and more support as a means to financial instruments – would generate about $300 billion a generate substantial new revenue to fund quality public serv- year that can be used to reverse poverty and climate change ices and sustainable development.