THE DANGERS OF WATER PRIVATIZATION

WHEREAS, water is a source of life for all creatures living on the earth and is essential for the strength and vitality of every community in the world.  Access to and the supply of clean quality water in sufficient quantities and at affordable prices is a fundamental right on par with other human rights; and

WHEREAS, historically, water has been viewed as a public good, not a market commodity.  Over the last 200 years, most water utilities have been publicly owned and managed.  The vast majority of people around the world receive water and sanitation services from publicly owned and operated facilities; and

WHEREAS, in the face of a growing global freshwater scarcity, major global corporations have been moving into the “water market.”  The claim of multinational water corporations is that they will save government money, a claim that has not borne out in practice; and

WHEREAS, the largest water privatization contract in United States history, in Atlanta, Ga., was terminated in January 2003.  The privateers neglected to invest in the water infrastructure, improperly billed the city for work it did not do and raised rates; and

WHEREAS, water privatization schemes have failed to deliver in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Manila, Philippines; Cochabamba, Bolivia; Jakarta, Indonesia; Nelspruit, South Africa; the United Kingdom and other communities:

RESOLVED, that the AFT oppose water privatization in communities in the United States and around the globe through our international trade secretariat affiliations in Public Services International and Education International; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT and its affiliates work to establish labor-management programs in unions where the AFT represents water workers to insure that U.S. water systems are adequately funded and can continue to maintain high-quality standards and effective service delivery for the taxpayers of the community served. [Executive Council, February 2005]