From National Monopoly to Multinational: Consequences for work in the Public Services in Europe

Since the 1990s, a large number of public service providers operating in networks —which had been nationally-bound entities largely owned and controlled by the State at least since the post war period — embarked on aggressive internationalization strategies. This expan-sion was a consequence of organisational reform that had started in the 1970s, particularly policies of privatisation, sector liberalisation and the liberalization of national Foreign Di-rect Investment regimes. This article examines the recent organisational transformations of public service providers, particularly those based in the European Union, which have been at the forefront of this development. Public service provider transformation, including interna-tionalization, has significant consequences for work inside these organisations, and it is these consequences that are discussed here, with particular focus on electricity, telecommunications and postal services