Public and Commercial Services Union

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:

• Development awareness work
• Industrial and political
• International solidarity
• Education and development  
• International union news from Labourstart
• PCS in Palestine
• Affiliated organisations

Latest news

Sad death of a trade unionist

The TUC has issued a letter of condolence.

Robin Hood tax campaign launches the saving challenge

The saving challenge sets out to reframe the public debate on the UK deficit by providing a viable alternative to the level of the proposed cuts.

Saving challenge mimics the HM Treasury’s spending challenge, which seeks suggestions from UK citizens on which cuts should be made to reduce the deficit.

Please share your views with the Robin Hood tax campaign website on what kind of tax on the financial sector you would like, and how the money that such a tax would raise should be used.

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.

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.