Turkish and Dutch unions discuss resistance to privatisation and commercialisation of public services

Turkish and Dutch unions discuss resistance to privatisation and commercialisation of public services

(25 May 2021) The Turkish unions in DISK (like Genel-Is and Devrim Saglik-Is) and KESK (SES, Tum-bel-Sen) and the Dutch FNV met to discuss the impact of outsourcing, privatisation and commercialisation of public services. It is part of a large project in which the unions consider how the Future is Public. The unions are considering which trade union strategies are effective against privatisation and what can be done to bring privatised services back into public ownership. Other issues like equality after the withdrawal of Turkey from the Istanbul Convention, trade union rights and organising and recruitment are also considered.

The EPSU General Secretary participated. He spoke of the work of EPSU. The pandemic has shown the importance of public services. And austerity policies have undermined how society can respond to pandemics but also to climate change and growing inequalities. Fighting against privatisation and commercialisation of public services is a key issue for EPSU affiliates. He argued to use the action day on 23 June together to underline the common struggle.

The online meeting took place 21 May 2021.

 

Netherlands Türkiye