The UCLG Annual Retreat brings together the UCLG key LRG membership and partners to define synergies and develop actions in line with the work plans set out by the organisations governing bodies defining the organisation’s priorities for the rest of the year. UCLG invited PSI representatives to address its membership by contributing to three plenary sessions. 

SDG 8 must be localised not only in LRG territories, but also in their workplaces  

On 18 February, Rebeca Cespedes Alvarado, Secretary of Gender of the National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP) of Costa Rica and of the Latin American Confederation of Municipal Employees affiliated to PSI (CONTRAM-PSI) addressed the UCLG audience about the implementation of SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth at the retreat’s discussion on the localisation of the UN SDGs, the process of implementing and advancing the SDGs in local territories and communities by LRGs, largely through the quality local public service provision.  

Caption: Rebeca Cespedes Alvarado, representing the PSI LRG Global Network, addressed the UCLG audience about the implementation of SDG 8 Decent Work at the LRG strategic retreat 2025. 

She pointed out the key role that LRGs play in implementing SDG 8 not only through public policies that generate decent employment opportunities in the communities and territories under their jurisdictions, but also as employers of LRG workplaces. Indeed, represented by  PSI-affiliated trade unions, LRG workers are key to the local implementation of all SDGs and they themselves are right-holders of human, labour and union rights, including freedom of association and collective bargaining.  

“Local quality public service delivery is intrinsically connected to LRG workers access to decent work, the core concept underpinning SDG8. When LRG workers do not have access to freedom of association and collective bargaining not only their human rights are breached; but also everyone pays the price, as they cannot fulfil their public service delivery mandate and implement LRG public policies at their best”, Cespedes Alvarado said. 

Young LRG workers are at the heart of effective responses to today’s multiple crises  

The 2025 UCLG Annual Retreat focused on youth as key to defining actions at the local level. It aimed to foster intergenerational dialogue, to enhance LRG’s collective ability to address today’s challenges, and to inform UCLG policy commitments for the UN World Summit for Social Development.  

UCLG asked PSI to bring the voice of a young worker representative from the PSI membership to provide reflections on LRG role and policies on youth for  a public panel on 19 February. Irish PSI and EPSU affiliate FÓRSA sent Graham Bollard, Vice Chair of the Fingal Forsa Union Local Branch Committee and Fingal County Council (North Dublin) staff. During his address of LRG global employers, he stressed the role LRGs have to look after the needs of young people in their communities, but also of the young workers in their own workforce. 

Caption: Graham Bollard of Forsa and Fingal County Council (North Dublin) During his address of LRG global employers in Barcelona on 19 February 2025. 

“Many LRGs lead important projects and initiatives to enhance the quality of life and opportunities of their citizens. LRG representatives and senior management should do the same with their own workforce, in terms of offering competitive salaries, benefits and quality working conditions. For instance, many local government workers supply public services such as Housing to citizens but they may not be in a situation to afford or benefit from the service themselves” Bollard said. “Besides, the issue of intergenerational change in LRG workplaces is huge. In Ireland, many council workers are retiring: the age gap is huge and councils are not replacing retirees, which creates an overwhelming workload on remain council workers. Bargaining collectively with LRG unions are key to resolving this intergenerational crisis in Irish council workplaces” he added.  

UCLG celebrates UN World Day of Social Justice and launches a new social covenant  

UCLG also sought PSI’s contribution asking to join a public debate for its membership on UN World Day of Social Justice, 20 February, of which the ILO is the custodian UN organisation. The session aimed at “redefining” public service provision exploring how LRGs can enhance care, resilience, and rights-based approaches in their territories. The session was also meant to  fuel the debate on the UCLG commitments within the framework of the Local Social Covenant, a multi-dimensional document the UCLG is seeking to develop and present to the UN World Summit for Social Development in November 2025 and is meant to reinforce the UCLG 2022 Congress plan of action the “Pact for the Future of Humanity” towards the UCLG 2026 World Congress. 

Daria Cibrario, PSI Senior Policy Officer, welcomed the fact that UCLG was celebrating World Social Justice Day, as this is a day centred on international labour standards and decent work. She observed that the so-called “new essentials” are not necessarily that new: it is just that we collectively forgot what used to be vital, basic services provided to all, largely because they got privatised and/or de-regulated and users now have to pay for them often in a liberalised market (e.g. education, basic food staples, public and social housing, etc.). But when global, multiple crises strike, they become again essentials because we are suddenly reminded that what is needed to overcome crises are collective solutions, not individual ones.  

Caption: Daria Cibrario, PSI Senior Policy Officer, addressing the UCLG audience   

on UN World Day for Social Justice in Barcelona on 20 February 2025. 

“LRG workers are the backbone of what UCLG calls ‘caring cities’ – this is why they must be encompassed and considered very prominently in UCLG plans, including through social dialogue and collective bargaining” she said. “Delivering local public services in today’s world is no small feat. Many LRG workers deliver services relentlessly in difficult conditions and yet deliver services out of dedication, commitment and service ethos to their communities and their LRG employers – UCLG members - on which they depend. We appreciate the concept of ‘caring’ for the people, including for workers. However, as trade unions, PSI affiliates expect that LRG employers respect and uphold their human and workers’ rights, rather than act out of niceness and charity” she added.  

PSI and UCLG relations moves forward towards a framework agreement 

During the session, Emilia Saiz, UCLG General Secretary, publicly confirmed the intention to enter into dialogue with PSI to develop a global social framework agreement. In February 2024, on occasion of the UCLG strategic retreat, the a PSI delegation led by the Deputy General Secretary of CFDT Interco (France) officially asked the UCLG General Secretary to open a process of negotiation of a social dialogue agreement with PSI, to which they agreed and confirmed in  writing in May 2024.  

Caption: Emilia SaÍz, UCLG General Secretary receives a PSI flag with the motto “People over Profit” on 20 February, UN Day for Social Justice.