Taking our public services back in house - Compendium of 50 remunicipalisation case studies

Taking our public services back in house - Compendium of 50 remunicipalisation case studies

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This compendium of 50 remunicipalisation case studies is the second part of the report "Taking our public services back in house", a remunicipalisation guide for workers and trade unions. Commissioned by PSI to Dr. Vera Weghmann from the University of Greenwich, this new guide provides a timely, extensive analysis and case studies to support PSI affiliates in the process of reclaiming public service ownership and control in the common interest.

A growing body of research and documentation shows that privatised services are being returned to public ownership and control. Cities, regions, communities, and some states are bringing public services back from private to public ownership due to the failure of privatisation to keep its promises in term of cost effectiveness, service quality and user access. Fresh research by the Transnational Institute shows 1,400 successful cases of bringing public services back from private ownership and/or management involving 2,400 cities in 58 countries.

PSI encourages remunicipalisation and has been supporting this process for years, working with a coalition of allies, under the umbrella of our Quality Public Services mandate. Trade unions are aware of the challenges for workers in the transition and are engaged to protect their terms and conditions of employment.

Each remunicipalisation case is unique due to specific local and national jurisdictions, political systems and social movements that underpin it.

The growing remunicipalisation experience trade unions are accumulating will allow peer learning and help to successfully address challenges. As the world prepares for a post-Covid-19 order, there is a unique opportunity to reclaim a central role for substantial investment and rebuilding of quality public services for all, and remunicipalisation is an option for governments to do so.

The report is divided into two parts. The first part (available below) is the analyses, the second part is a compendium of 50 remunicialisation case studies.

Taking our public services back in house - A remunicipalisation guide for workers and trade unions

This new trade union guide, commissioned by PSI to Dr. Vera Weghmann from the University of Greenwich, provides a timely, extensive analysis to support PSI affiliates in the process of reclaiming public service ownership and control in the common interest.