Portuguese workers oppose commercialisation of water

EPSU Portuguese affiliate STAL will celebrate World Water Day (22 March 2007) by distributing a document to the population of the main cities, as well as by an exhibition dedicated to this theme. The recent Portuguese governments, including the present government, have taken steps towards total liberalization of water services. The government wants to concentrate the local systems of water management (reservoir and distribution) in the hands of the state holding Águas de Portugal (ADP). It is foreseen to be privatised in the future. It also insists on public-private partnerships; and approval a Water Framework Directive, in 2005, which liberalises this public good. The document focuses on public water management and the general public to mobilise against privatisation. About 80 thousand documents will be distributed, and 16 collections will be shown in the exhibition.