Unions demand more wages to boost economy
The trade union umbrella group, Travail Suisse, has called for general salary increases of up to five per cent next year.
The organisation said the rise was needed to balance out record inflation and to boost economic growth by maintaining spending power.
Employees are entitled to their share as productivity increased amid a widening gap between salaries of top managers and workers, said Travail Suisse on Monday.
The group, representing about 170,000 employees from 11 different associations, is the second largest union group after the Swiss Trade Union Federation.
The Swiss Employers’ Association has rejected the calls as unrealistic.
Earlier this year the unions heavily criticised warnings by the Swiss central bank that excessive wage increases would result in spiralling inflation.
In July the annual inflation rate reached 3.1 per cent – its highest level in 15 years.
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