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PSI 31st World Congress ends with emotional farewell for Rosa Pavanelli and David Prentis

Congress approves Plan of Action for the next 5 years.

Panel 5 - Workers on the Frontlines: Unions Take a Stand for Climate Justice

The climate crisis is no longer a future threat - it is here, wreaking havoc on communities worldwide. But workers and unions are mobilising for just solutions. At the PSI Congress panel "Climate, Workers, and Unions," leaders shared strategies to educate, organise, and advocate for those most impacted.

Shamim Ara of Pakistan's All Sindh Lady Health Workers and Employees Union (ASLHWEU) shared firsthand experiences of recent devastating floods, highlighting the heroism of healthcare workers responding to disasters and the need for policies to support them. She stated: "There should be a policy with the inclusion of the lady health workers...to ensure they are protected from harassment and coercion."

Tifonie Powell-Williams of the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) emphasised the disproportionate climate impacts on small island states, including the Pacific region.  She spotlighted the plight of overworked and undervalued public sector workers on the frontlines, and the need for educating and organising around climate justice. "The climate crisis intersects at all levels," she said, calling for climate justice that puts "people over profit."

Sean Sweeney of Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) stressed the urgent need to reclaim and decarbonize the energy sector through public ownership and democratic control. He stated: "We need the kind of response that is commensurate with the challenge we face."

Global climate specialist Anabella Rosemberg warned against powerful actors coopting climate justice language while resisting true system change. She affirmed that the labour movement must be at the heart of climate solutions, stating "this fight will never be won without working people."

In his closing remarks, David Boys emphasised the need to continue making political connections between climate issues and other key union focuses like tax, trade, migration, and gender equality. He stated that the weakening of democratic institutions at all levels has greatly contributed to the current climate crisis.

The panel made it clear: Tackling the climate emergency requires solidarity across borders, sectors, and movements. Unions are poised to lead the charge. Now is the time to educate, organise, and advocate for climate justice rooted in equity, care, and democracy.

PSI Holds Consultation on Organising Sanitation Workers in South Asia

"We cannot stand by while our fellow workers face such hazards and indignities," declared Graham Kelly of United Services Union, Australia after viewing a shocking video from Bangladesh which was shown at the PSI Congress. The video showed the dangerous working conditions and lack of basic protective equipment these workers face, as well as the social discrimination and exclusion they endure. The video drew outrage and commitments to support the workers from attendees.

Visa issues meant sanitation workers from Bangladesh and Nepal were unable to attend.  Their plea for solidarity was amplified by Rashed, a sewer supervisor from Dhaka. Despite the risk of losing his job, Rashed shared about the dire conditions facing his team of contract workers at WASA, the Dhaka water authority. Fearful of losing their jobs, the workers keep silent rather than advocate for themselves."The union is trying to help us, but the authorities do not cooperate. With PSI's help, we could get our demands," explained Rashed. Those demands include safety equipment, upgraded infrastructure, reasonable hours and job security for sanitation workers. 

The PSI consultation brought together unions from across South Asia to share the common struggles faced by sanitation workers in the region. Following a recent meeting in Kathmandu, unions decided to establish a joint platform to organise sanitation workers more effectively. Rashed's testimony underscored the need for global solidarity expressed by participants.

"Sanitation workers across Asia face unacceptable risks. Their work keeps communities healthy, yet they're treated as less than human," said PSI's Asia Pacific Regional Secretary Kate Lappin. "We are bringing unions together to demand justice, safety and dignity for these essential workers." With workers like Rashed courageously speaking out, PSI aims to build union power and win concrete change through its new South Asia Sanitation Workers Platform.

The discussion focused on the importance of on-the-ground organising to build power among these precarious workers, learning from PSI's successes with community health workers. The goal is a subregional campaign focused on the common demands of sanitation workers across South Asia, while also addressing country-specific issues. By organising these essential but marginalised workers, PSI hopes to bring justice, dignity and power to those who keep communities healthy across South Asia.

Including workers living with disabilities

The discussion included opening remarks from Musanje Geofrey, Andrea Barcelos de Souza, and Abdoul Adamu.

"Andrea Barcelos de Souza (Brazil) mentioned: 'In Brazil, 5% of jobs are reserved for people with disabilities by law, but in SP it's only 1%. As a union, we must commit to including people with disabilities in our agenda'".

Nyota Mulcare and Jester Weekes discussed disability and employment inclusion in Montserrat.

"Abdoul Adamu (Niger) mentioned: 'In the energy union, we have 60% of workers with disabilities, many due to work accidents and others from birth'".

Faustina Van Aperen, Esteban Tromel, and Güler Koca presented the ILO's approach to decent work for people with disabilities. Faustina Van Aperen (ILO-ACTRAV) spoke about the ILO's global approach based on collective bargaining and the system of social dialogue in public services.

"Esteban Tromel and Güler Koca (ILO-GEDI) highlighted that 'in the past, not enough attention was paid to people with disabilities in collective bargaining, despite the labor gap and lack of rights faced by this group'".

In the end, Verónica Montúfar led a question and answer session and discussed future participation and collaborative work.

This Congress wrap-up newsletter was produced by:

Trimita Chakma, Jyotsna Singh, Mayra Castro, Carlos Verdugo Ortega, Nayareth Quevedo, Leo Hyde, Bojan Kanižaj, Caroline Taleb, Sarah Bittel, Marko Janžić, Marcelo Netto, Jamie Caldwell, Pablo Sanchez Centellas, Chloe Kenny, Sonia Sanchez.