Your membership makes a difference: find out how!

At a time when Swiss industry is in difficulty, Angestellte Schweiz team is fully committed to minimising the impact of the crisis.

According to the latest communications from Swissmen, sales in the Swiss tech industry (machinery, electrical equipment and metals) are down by 4.2% compared to 2023, mainly due to the economic weakness in the European Union. Companies are suffering, as are rising energy prices. With short-time working and job cuts, there are signs that the economy is running out of steam.

In these turbulent times, employee associations play an essential role. We are pleased to present here an overview of the actions that your contributions are making possible.

The MEM collective labour agreement, which we negotiate and implement, improves the working lives of 100,000 employees in around 530 companies. And in the event of restructuring, additional measures are required. Our job then is to limit the negative consequences of these difficult decisions. In the companies concerned, collaborative work with staff committees, existing employees∙e∙s and other social partners can make a real difference, especially if the expected political support materialises.

 

The example of Stahl Gerlafingen

The steelworks in Solothurn announced a further 120 redundancies last October. After two demonstrations and a petition to the Federal Council, members of parliament voted in favour of motions to protect our country's steel industry. The result is that, in line with our requests, management is now opting for the short-time working solution, pending further political action.

This is a very welcome prospect: as well as sparing 120 people and their families the painful experience of redundancy, it represents a further step towards more sustainable public procurement.

We're not just a country of banks. Innovative, modern industry plays a key role in our economic system. In many cases, it provides concrete solutions to environmental challenges, both here and around the world. So it's essential that we support it.

Pierre Derivaz Lawyer at Angestellte Schweiz.

Collective redundancies: what next?

Since the beginning of the year, Angestellte Schweiz has been involved in more than 20 mass redundancies. Around 60 additional jobs have been saved in three companies in the cantons of Zurich and Bern. This is the result of the perseverance of our lawyers, who negotiate, debate and propose solutions on the ground. They raise the possibility of internal transfers and support the people concerned in their efforts.

In these cases, particular attention is paid to older employees. Early retirement options, comprehensive advice on financial planning: these steps are essential if employees are to look to the future with greater peace of mind. In companies governed by the CLA for the MEM industries, employees over 55 also have a compulsory interview with management or their line manager prior to any dismissal, to inform them and explore options for maintaining their employment.

And when redundancy cannot be avoided, resignation is not an option: a suitable redundancy package can often help people keep their heads above water while waiting for a new job. Here's an example from the canton of Neuchâtel: our intervention led to a considerable improvement in the social plan already in place for a company that was closing down. Old-age benefits were doubled, seniority benefits tripled and child benefits quadrupled. The staff committee had also agreed to 4 months' protection against dismissal, which was maintained. In another company in Zurich, the severance pay initially agreed was more than doubled: several hundred of the people concerned now benefit from it. In another case, the actual redundancy was postponed until 2025, giving people more time to get organised.

 

Collective and individual action

These successes are the result of strong commitment and teamwork, both internally and with our partners. Angestellte Schweiz is also committed to the well-being and career development of individual professionals. With our ‘Etwas Tun!’ app, we make you aware of the importance of looking after your mental health at work. And our ongoing training catalogue helps you stay competitive in the job market. In 2025, we'll be offering courses on how to master the tools of artificial intelligence and how to organise your pension provision. These are all free opportunities for members to boost their CVs or make sure they know what they're getting into when it comes to finance.

 

Thank you very much!

We firmly believe that every challenge is a learning experience, and that you can emerge from it more creative and resilient. That's the way we work, but none of it would be possible without your support. Thanks to your contributions, small victories become reality. And they make a real difference to those who go to work every day, and suddenly find themselves impacted by decisions beyond their control.

Author

Laure Fasel

Laure Fasel