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PCS international

Britain's economy and political system are interdependent with Europe and the rest of the world.

This is why PCS works closely with trade unions in other countries and through key international organisations to promote and protect its members' interests and concerns.

We are affiliated to the world trade union bodies, Public Services International and Union Network International both of which maintain up to date links to unions throughout the world.

This section includes the following pages:

Latest news

Iraqi ministry of electricity shuts down electricity workers' unions
 

In a repressive action reminiscent of Saddam Hussein's treatment of trade unionists, the Iraqi police, acting on the orders of the Oil Minister raided and shut down trade unions across the electricity sector on 21 July.

The ministerial order triggering the crack-down prohibits "all trade union activities at the ministry and its departments and sites" and authorises the police "to close all trade union offices and bases and to take control of unions' assets properties and documents, furniture and computers."

This is one of worst acts of union repression since the fall of Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi trade union movement is calling on trade union members everywhere to raise their voices in protest. You can help by signing and distributing this urgent appeal on the Labour Start website.

Please also write to the ConDem government's foreign secretary, the Rt Hon William Hague MP, asking him to take urgent action. For your reference a copy of the TUC general secretary's letter to the foreign secretary is on the TUC website.

Palestine - Join the Ban Settlement Goods campaign

Please see here for everything you need to join the PCS campaign against illegal Israeli settlement goods.

Urgent action – Stop the public services bill in Swaziland

The Swaziland Government wants to create a law that would make it illegal for anyone it employs to discuss issues they consider to be ‘political’ or associate with a group they deem to be ‘political’. This will have a massive impact on the rights of trade unionists and political activists.

Please visit the Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) website to write to the Swaziland High Commission, calling on the Swazi Government to drop this repressive bill. PCS is affiliated to ACTSA, the successor organisation to the Anti-Apartheid Movement.

The land-locked Kingdom of Swaziland has a population of just 1.1 million. This small country is often overlooked despite having Africa’s longest running state of emergency of 35 years. The people of Swaziland suffer from extreme poverty (70 per cent of the population live on less than $1 a day) and more than 1 in 4 Swazis are living with HIV and AIDS. Swaziland is Africa's only autocratic absolute monarchy.

Political parties are banned, political and civic activists are imprisoned, and the judiciary, media and other authoritative bodies are controlled by the monarchy.

Urgent call for freedom for Iranian bus worker trade unionists

Iranian trade unionists are under constant threat of harassment, arrest and violence by the Iranian government, the Revolutionary Guard and employers. British trade unionists have been in the forefront of solidarity campaigns with Iran's free trade unions, and now two more brave trade union leaders need our support.

Saeed Torabian and Reza Shahabi, leading members of a Tehran bus workers' union which is not recognised by the authorities in Iran - have been arrested and are held at unknown locations. The two detained men are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.

Amnesty International and global trade unions have established an urgent action to defend them.  Visit the Amnesty International website to take action now.

Robin Hood Tax - support the billboard takeover of Westminster tube and the chancellor e-campaign

To find out more about helping the campaign buy advertising space at Westminster tube station to get the message across to MPs, and to send off your pro Robin Hood tax message to the Chancellor in advance of the budget, please visit the Robin Hood tax website.  

Gaza flotilla - sign the global petition

Your opportunity to add your name to the global petition to call for an immediate international investigation into the flotilla assault, full accountability for those responsible, and the lifting of the Gaza blockade. Please sign and circulate it.  For more information please see the TUC website.

Urgent action on Zimbabwe 

Although Zimbabwe has dropped out of the news in recent months, trade union and human rights violations including arbitrary arrests and detentions continue unabated in Zimbabwe.

In February this year, Gertrude Hambira, general secretary, General Agricultural Plantations Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ) was forced to go into hiding following a raid on the union head office. In March, Okay Machisa, director of ZimRights was arrested for his role in coordinating a public exhibition featuring images of political violence.

For more information and to take action please go to the Amnesty International alert on trade union and human rights violations in Zimbabwe.