(17 May 2013) Several hundred trade union and works council representatives of Germany’s water companies organized a demonstration to demand that water is taken out of the concessions directive. The German government and the EU Commission were demanded to be clear about declaring water a human right. Representatives of other partners in support of the ECI joined as well. EPSU was represented by the Deputy General Secretary. The demo was supported by Ver.di. It took place 14 May 2013, (...)

(16 May 2013) Nestle CEO Brabeck no longer claims that water is Not a human right following recent controversy. His position is more spun: 25 litres of water per day is a human right. This is equivalent to 1.5% of the fresh water used. It is only the other 98.5% of our available fresh water that should be open for the market. ’Business knows how it can be used most efficiently’ (= with the highest return in profits). Watch how Nestle operates in South Africa read our previous article (26 (...)

(10 May 2013) A new success for the groups that oppose the privatisation of the Thessaloniki water company. They have brought together the necessary funding to play a role in the bidding for the Thessaloniki Water Supply & Sewerage (Eyath) company. As part of the austerity package the EU forced upon Greece, accepted by the respective Greek governments, the government is forced to sell public assets to reduce its debt. Citizens do not agree with the privatisation of water companies if (...)

(26 April 2013) Peter Brabeck, the boss of the multinational corporation Nestle denies that water is a human right in the documentary: We feed the world. He believes that the idea that water is a human right comes from “extremist” NGOs. For him water is a foodstuff like any other, and should have a market value. Privatisation is the best way of doing so. EPSU Deputy General Secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan: "We disagree. Most members of the European Parliament disagree. The United Nations (...)

(26 April 2013) The Athens Water workers are organizing many activities to underline that it is bad public policy to privatise the Athens water company. All the unions branches will be distributing leaflets and other materials at the Syntagma and Korais squares. The union underlines that water needs to remain a public good. They will also be collecting signatures for the European Citizens Initiative Water is a human right, not for sale. For the (...)

(25 April 2013) Water privatisation is on the agenda in many European countries now austerity policies are imposed and governments are scrambling to find money. Water privatisation is hotly contested. It was the first defeat for Thatcher as initial proposals run into very broad opposition. International evidence of PSIRU has demonstrated the experience across the world with privatisation and concession of water services with many countries and municipalities reversing their decisions to (...)

(15 April 2013) On 5 April a large number of workers, members of STAL, in the biggest Portuguese water company “Aguas de Portugal” (AdP) took action to protest against the proposed privatisation of the company and demanding their right for a collective agreement. STAL states that both the water supply side and the sewerage and waste services sides should remain under public and democratic control, as they are essential services to the public for environmental, health and social reasons. (...)

(22 March 2013) Hundreds of activists will be collecting signatures for the right to water European Citizens Initiative in many countries in the EU on the occasion of World Water Day. More than 1 million citizens have already signed. The right2water initiative demands that water and sanitation are declared a human right in the EU. Campaigners across the world will also be participating in the “International Year of Water Cooperation”, demanding that the human right to water and sanitation (...)

(21 March 2013) Implementing the human right to water and sanitation is a cornerstone of our work as public service unions in the public water and sanitation sector says public Services International . On World Water Day public service unions are mobilising to strengthen our democracies, to build stronger connections with community groups, to hold our officials accountable and to ensure universal access to quality public services for clean water and sanitation. PSI argues that these debates (...)