In March 1907, the executive of the German Union of Municipal and State Workers, based in Berlin, issued a call to "workers employed in municipal and state undertakings, in power stations, in gas and waterworks, in all countries" to attend an international conference in August 1907, in Stuttgart. Four Danes, two Dutchmen, eight Germans, a Hungarian, a Swede and a Swiss met in the Stuttgart trade union building for the First Congress of Public Services International, representing 44,479 workers,[2] and they founded the International Secretariat of the Workers in Public Services. This grew rapidly, and by 1913 represented more than 100,000 workers, enabling a part-time salary to be paid to the secretary, based in Berlin.[3]
The federation ceased to operate during World War I, but was reactivated in 1919, now based in Amsterdam. In 1925, it renamed itself as the International Federation of Employees in Public Services, while in 1935 it absorbed the International Federation of Civil Servants, becoming the International Federation of Employees in Public and Civil Services. The headquarters moved back to Berlin in 1929, then to Amsterdam in 1933, and on to Paris. This closed in 1940, and the occupying Nazi forces destroyed the federation's property, but in 1945 the federation was relaunched at a meeting of the executive committee, held in London. The following year, it became known as the International Federation of Unions of Employees in Public and Civil Services, then in 1958 it shortened its name to become the "Public Services International".[3]
PSI is involved in the movement against privatisation of public services by corporations across the world. PSI also works against tax evasion by multinational corporations and is a founding member of the International Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation.[4] PSI's pro-worker stance has put it at odds with the WTO, World Bank and IMF who predominantly promote market solutions.[5]
PSI works in partnership with affiliate trade unions, other Global Union Federations and NGOs such as the Our World is Not For Sale Network.
Financed by PSI, Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU) researches the privatisation and restructuring of public services around the world, with special focus on water, energy, waste management, and healthcare. Established in 2000, it is part of the Business School of the University of Greenwich, UK.[6][7]
