The scourge of governments selling off public assets is not just a problem for western democracies with conservative governments. The issue is a burning one in the global south as well. In early February 2025, 120 union leaders and allies from 35 countries gathered in Mexico City for the second Inter-Regional Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) meeting. TUED is a global network of more than 130 unions working to develop democratic control and public ownership of energy, and to promote solutions to the climate crisis. Addressing energy poverty, promoting energy sovereignty, and resisting the ruin of both land and people, and attacks on workers’ rights are key issues of the network.

Union leaders represented 30 countries, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Senegal, South Africa, Peru, Philippines, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. Allies from the Netherlands, and the United States also participated.

The unions share the common, deep concern about energy security, and access to energy for the most vulnerable. Privatising energy, as we have learnt in NSW, raises prices significantly, but does not improve the security or consistency of the supply of energy.

The most significant win reported to the meeting was that of Persatuan Pegawai Indonesia Power (PPIP) and their union’s victory in the Constitutional Court. They successfully blocked plans to dismantle the state-owned electricity company’s generation, distribution, and transmission — an action that would have paved the way for full privatisation. Their win follows two decades of legal battles against government attempts to completely privatise the electricity sector in Indonesia.

The conference delegates reaffirmed their commitment to a global public good approach, recognising that tackling climate change cannot, and should not be driven by private profit. Instead, they will advocate for increased international cooperation in energy governance and ensuring public ownership, sustainability, and social justice for the people of the global south.