Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

SWISS ground staff get pay rise as pilots threaten strike

SWISS plane with logo
The union says this is management recognition of the need to catch up for lost wages during the pandemic, when many planes remained grounded. © Keystone / Gaetan Bally

Ground staff at Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) have reached agreement with the company on pay rises from January.

“The significant wage increases from January 1 suggest that management has, at least for ground staff, recognised the need to make up for lost wages after the pandemic,” said Philipp Hadorn, head of the ground staff union, on Friday. 

Under the deal, the overall wage bill is to rise by 3.3%. All ground staff will get a pay increase of at least 2%, with more for the lowest paid. The company has also agreed to pay a “Covid bonus” of CHF2,500 ($2,472).

Hadorn described the negotiations as “tough but constructive”. The agreement announced Friday covers some 1,500 ground staff. 

This comes as SWISS airline pilots are threatening a possible strike if top management does not make them an acceptable offer in talks this weekend. The pilots have been without a collective labour agreement on pay and conditions since April this year.

More
SWISS pilots protest

More

SWISS pilots vote for possible strike

This content was published on SWISS pilots on Sunday voted to go on strike over working conditions if management does not come up with a better offer by next week.

Read more: SWISS pilots vote for possible strike


News

The meeting will be held on June 15 and 16 at the five-star Bürgenstock hotel above Lake Lucerne in central Switzerland.

More

Ukraine peace talks: 50 countries have confirmed participation

This content was published on To date, 50 countries out 160 invited delegations have confirmed they will attend the Ukraine peace conference, held in central Switzerland in mid-June, according to Swiss public radio, RTS.

Read more: Ukraine peace talks: 50 countries have confirmed participation

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR