International

	Peter Waldorff, PSI General Secretary elect

New leader of Public Services International (PSI) elected

By the ASU - a union partner in international solidarity

Peter Waldorff has been elected general secretary of Public Services International (PSI), the 20 million-strong global representative body for public service trade unions. The 52-year-old Dane will take up the position on 1 January 2008, after working with outgoing general secretary Hans Engelberts on a smooth transition.

"The ASU had a very good working relationship with Hans Engelberts over many years, meeting with him numerous times to discuss ASU concerns," said ASU National Secretary Paul Slape.

"We have every confidence that our positive relationship with the PSI will continue under the stewardship of the Peter Waldorff. We look forward to working with Peter to achieve changes necessary for PSI to meet the challenges of economic globalisation in the 21st century," concluded Paul Slape.

Speaking after the result of the secret ballot was declared, Waldorff called for unity and a renewed focus on future challenges.

"We will not be the victims of yesterday's agenda. We will set tomorrow's agenda. From today we stay united. I reach out two hands to all of you. We will go forward in friendship, solidarity and success in our future co-operation," he said.

With a background in local government, Waldorff has been President of HK-Stat, the Danish union for government and public employees, since 2001. He has been a member of PSI's executive board since 1998 and also sits on the European Federation of Public Service Unions' standing committee.

Mr Waldorff said he was aware of high expectations among affiliates and their members. "I have not promised them all kinds of things, and every change we make must be done within the limited resources we have," he said.

The new man is looking forward to PSI's planned organisational review and says a closer look at PSI's current structure might be needed to see if it suits the needs of affiliated unions.

"We might need to adapt to provide new answers to new challenges. At the same time we must also become attractive to new unions and continue to be of value for our current members. I would like to see inclusive decision-making that leads to better policies. Communications with our affiliates is key," he said.

He paid tribute to Keith Sonnet of the British union Unison, who also ran for the post. "Keith, I thank you for the contest, which was a friendly one. We have both shown deep respect for PSI and its affiliates," he said.

PSI represents 650 affiliated trade unions in over 150 countries. Its centennial congress took place in Vienna, Austria, in September 2007 at which the ASU was represented by four delegates: National Secretary Paul Slape, Assistant National Secretary Greg McLean, Victorian Branch Executive President Russell Atwood and Tasmanian Branch Secretary Sean Kelly.