Workplace Switzerland

Cigarette factory workers continue strike

This content was published on Dec 4, 2004 The employees, who began their strike on Tuesday, fear the closure of the plant. Negotiations with management are set to begin on Monday. The workers decided to continue the strike through the weekend even though the management agreed on Friday to begin talks. “We’re convinced that it is important to continue the strike despite the…

Senate moves to extend labour-market access

This content was published on Dec 2, 2004 Parliamentarians voted on Thursday unanimously in favour of the proposal, which includes a series of measures to combat the threat of wage dumping. Earlier this year the second phase of a bilateral accord with Brussels came into effect, removing the priority previously given to Swiss workers on the domestic labour market. The latest proposal agreed…

Jobless time bomb ticks in western Switzerland

This content was published on Nov 30, 2004 The picturesque lakeside resort in the western canton of Vaud is an unemployment black spot. Teenagers with poor school grades and little or no work experience are finding it increasingly difficult to find jobs or even apprenticeship places. At the end of November, just over five per cent of those aged between 15 and 24…

Swiss Post and union to start talks

This content was published on Nov 26, 2004 The union says it has suspended industrial action for the time being, after Swiss Post agreed to discuss a compromise proposal put forward by workers’ representatives. At the heart of the dispute – and the strike action – is a plan by Swiss Post to set up independent subsidiaries to carry out some of its…

Protests point to growing union unrest

This content was published on Nov 25, 2004 In an interview with swissinfo, the co-president of Switzerland’s largest trade union discusses the latest demonstrations with a leading economics commentator. Vasco Pedrina is co-president of Unia, formed last month from a merger of four trade unions from the construction, engineering, retail and catering sector. It counts 200,000 members and claims to represent over one…

Deal reached in Swissmetal strike

This content was published on Nov 25, 2004 Union leaders said the strike had been one of the biggest and longest in recent years in Switzerland. Strikers at the Swissmetal factory in Reconvilier in northwestern Switzerland voted on Thursday in favour of a deal which guarantees the future of the site. Staff and managers at the factory, angered by plans to restructure the…

Swiss Post bosses fight back

This content was published on Nov 25, 2004 It accused unions of breaking the terms of a collective labour agreement by their industrial action. Around 200 postal workers took part in Thursday’s protest action, which lasted for about five hours. Union leaders say it is Swiss Post that is not respecting the new collective labour contract. Workers went on strike after talks between…

Postal workers to begin protests over pay cuts

This content was published on Nov 23, 2004 A meeting between the communications minister, Moritz Leuenberger, and the two conflict parties ended without agreement. The Communication Union said it was planning a first series of protests later this week to press its demands following inconclusive talks with Leuenberger in Bern on Tuesday. It said the meeting ended without agreement after Swiss Post managers…

Employers call for rise in retirement age

This content was published on Nov 22, 2004 But Travail Suisse – one of the largest employees’ unions – has rejected the move, calling it “unacceptable”. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Rudolf Stämpfli, president of the Swiss Employers’ Association, said measures were needed to shore up Switzerland’s social security system. “In Switzerland, economic recovery has only been lukewarm. We can’t behave…

Minister set to put his stamp on postal row

This content was published on Nov 21, 2004 The move, revealed on Sunday, comes on the same day a newspaper reported that salaries of postal workers were up to 20 per cent higher than those of similar jobs in private industry. Leuenberger will next week meet the head of Swiss Post, Ulrich Gygi, and the president of the Communication Union, Christian Levrat, for…

Workplace Switzerland

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Workplace Switzerland

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Cigarette factory workers continue strike

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Senate moves to extend labour-market access

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Jobless time bomb ticks in western Switzerland

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Swiss Post and union to start talks

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Protests point to growing union unrest

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Deal reached in Swissmetal strike

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Swiss Post bosses fight back

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Postal workers to begin protests over pay cuts

More

Employers call for rise in retirement age

More

Minister set to put his stamp on postal row

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