A SERIES OF FILMS ON THE WORLD OF WORK
PUBLIC SERVICES INTERNATIONAL
GLOBAL UNION FEDERATION
WHILE THEIR STORIES MIGHT BE DIFFERENT, THE GOAL OF THESE PUBLIC WORKERS IS THE SAME: TO MAKE THEIR COMMUNITIES BETTER FOR ALL - NOT JUST THE RICH FEW.
One Day, produced by the global union federation Public Services International, is a series of short films which attempt to capture an ordinary day in the extraordinary lives of public service workers such as Younous, Reina and Georges.
Featuring over a dozen workers and spanning the globe, these films from the frontline feature struggles against privatisation, austerity and neoliberalism and campaigns for trade union rights, disaster preparedness and access to quality public services.
“It’s a system of torture called Arbatachar. It’s a system you don’t forget”
Chad
After helping send Chad’s former dictator to prison, Younous keeps up the struggle for trade union rights and healthcare for all in one of Africa’s most repressive regimes.
Federation des Syndicats du Secteur Public du Tchad (FSPT)
“The cry of a young child has a thousand different nuances”
Italy
Arabella gives us an insight into the patience and sensitivity required to help develop society's youngest new members.
Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro, Funzione Pubblica
“There’s a total symbiosis between my music and my union activism”
Brazil
Through his music, Negro Davi stands up for respect for the waste workers he helps to organise.
SINDILIMP
“When women try to get ahead, we often find banana peels are slipped in front of us, to make us fall”
Chad
Follow Adjoujiu’s struggle to organize Chad’s first ever Women’s March - for the rights of workers, in the face of an oppressive regime.
Federation des Syndicats du Secteur Public du Tchad (FSPT)
“We’re not all mean and tough and roaaaaar…. We’re just not like that”
USA
In the face of public opinion, Chelsea highlights the human qualities and care for others required for her work as a prison officer.
AFL-CIO
“We were refugees, we lived through war, and now we can help our brothers”
Lebanon
After Syrian refugees fleeing the war settle in Georges’ community, he and his union work to ensure they all have access to safe public drinking water and sanitation.
Syndicat des Employes et Ouvriers de l’Office des Eaux de Beyrouth et du Mt Liban (SEOEB)
“We took our case for public electricity all the way to the supreme court”
Indonesia
Eko’s job at the local electricity plant comes under threat and as the government prepares for privatisation, he and his colleagues fight back.
Serikat Perkerja Perjuangan PT PLN Persero (SPP.PLN)
“In the morning, the streets are silent, calm, beautiful - we make them clean”
Italy
While tourists and residents are still asleep, Pasquale and Emmauele are already hitting the streets to help keep Siena one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro, Funzione Pubblica
“As a sick child in hospital, I dreamed of growing up and helping others.”
Japan
As one of only four female emergency workers in her unit, Reina fights fires, saves lives and advocates for workers rights in Omuta City, Japan.
JICHIRO, JPSU
“You can never leave this type of work, at work. It stays with you”
Chad
As public legal assistant for victims of rape and abuse, Demba uses the law to fight injustices - while fighting to maintain her hope.
Federation des Syndicats du Secteur Public du Tchad (FSPT)
“When you don’t have a fixed hours, a fixed contract - you don’t have a future”
Lebanon
Workers in Tripoli fight to end the contractualisation of young comrades and extend public water service to all.
Syndicat des Employes et Ouvriers de l’Office des Eaux de Beyrouth et du Mt Liban (SEOEB)
“We need to invest and prepare in good times for what is coming next”
The Philippines
When disasters strike the Philippines, Anvic is one of the brave First Responders leaving his family behind and running into the eye of the storm.
Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK)
“Not many people know but if we don’t get an effective public water system soon, Jakarta will sink into the sea.”
Indonesia
After 20 years of failed water privatisation, Daksim and his union still haven’t given up the fight to bring their water supply back into the hands of the people of Jakarta
Serikat Pekerja Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum Jakarta (SP PDAM Jakarta)
“Since my student days, they have been beating up. It hasn’t stopped me yet”
Guatemala
In Guatemala where unionists face detention and even assassination, Chepito works to organise public workers and fights for the right to water for all.
Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Empresa Municipal de Agua y Saneamiento Ambiental (SITRAGUA)
“This is the town where I grew up, where I played - now all my memories have gone away”
Japan
Japan faces up to hundreds of earthquakes a year and frontline workers are left to try and re-establish stability on shaky ground.
JICHIRO, JPSU
“It brings me such joy to hear the children of my village grow up to call me Mama Chi”
The Philippines
Chi Chi, a Filipino midwife, shares her joy of working to bring new life into her local community.
Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK)A SERIES OF FILMS ON THE WORLD OF WORK
Marcelo Netto
Leo Hyde
Leo Hyde
Sonia Sanchez
Marcelo Netto
Igor Ojeda
Nobuko Mitsui
Carlos Verdugo
Norman Grecia
Indah Budiarti
Najwa Hanna
Charlotte Kalabani
Daria Cibrario
José Arturo Ruíz
Nayareth Quevedo
Zakaria Taleb