Public Services International (PSI) is the global union for workers in public services. Through its 700 affiliates, including the PSA, it represents 30 million workers in 154 countries.
Benedict attended the congress, whose tag line was People Over Profit, along with National Secretary Kerry Davies and PSA Tuakana of Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina Komiti and PSA Māori Vice President Lesley Dixon.
Lesley provided a well-received Māori perspective to the 1200 delegates in a session on the topic of Decolonising Labour Regimes (see our report).
Benedict says the benefit of attending the conference was hearing first-hand about the common issues unions around the world were grappling with including climate change, capitalism, undermining and denigration of public services and public service workers, promoting fair tax regimes, AI and LGBTQIA+ rights.
Benedict says LGBTQIA+ rights are still an issue in many countries and the tensions were evident at the congress where some nations’ representatives walked out on a session he chaired discussing the rights of the rainbow community.
Lesley says she found the congress uplifting and motivating.
“However, it also had a sad note to it; hearing about the bad work conditions and poor or non-existent pay for many of our brothers and sisters in poorer and exploited countries. Exposing and trying to improve these conditions is what Public Services International is about,” Lesley says.
Kerry was struck by the sense of camaraderie and common purpose across the delegates.
“Despite our diversity we were dealing with similar issues. The conference demonstrated that in a world where it is easy to be divided by our differences, unions provide an opportunity to come together to stand up for public services and push to prioritise People Over Profit!” Kerry says.
At the congress PSA National Secretary Duane Leo (who did not attend) was confirmed as the Asia Pacific representative on the PSI executive.
The PSA representatives also visited the United Kingdom where they met union officials in England and Wales. Wales, which has had a Labour government for more than 20 years, has a social partnership approach, which means all government agencies must engage with unions.
“The benefit of this approach is that by listening to the workers’ voice you get better policy,” Benedict says.
In England, the representatives of Prospect, the 155,000 member-union whose members include civil servants, and the Trade Union Congress, were hopeful of a Labour victory in next year’s General Election after 13 years of Conservative government.
