Pro-immigrant campaign launched

The trade union, Unia, has launched a campaign against xenophobia, to counter the “current climate of ostracism in Switzerland”.

Unia said on Monday that without its immigrant workforce Switzerland would have a shortage of doctors, no new railway tunnels, not enough carers for the aged and filthy operating theatres.

“Rightwing populist groups have been cultivating the issue of foreigners for years, poisoning the social climate in a very dangerous way,” Unia said, explaining the reasoning for its day of action titled, “Without us, no Switzerland. Stop xenophobia”.

Over the next four months, the union will also distribute postcards with the slogan.

The union said instead of recognising the contributions of Switzerland’s immigrant population, foreign nationals often face discrimination and ostracism.

The rightwing Swiss People’s Party is currently running a nationwide campaign, “Stop mass immigration”.