Swiss Postal workers protest

Postal workers in Bern, Zurich, Basel and other Swiss cities and towns are staging a protest action on Friday. They are demonstrating against a major cost-cutting programme and plans to scrap their collective labour contract. A two-hour work stoppage will also take place in Geneva, Lausanne, Biel, Lucerne, St Gallen and in canton Ticino. The Communications Union claims changes planned by Swiss Post to the collective work contract will lead to increased hours, lower wages and the dismantling of a public service. The company has said it wants to introduce a regional salary system and a 41-hour week. The current collective contract runs out at the end of the year; negotiations between Swiss Post and the union are due to start in March. Christian Levrat from the Communications Union told swissinfo that his side would not enter talks until it had received certain guarantees. “[These are] job security, a minimum wage and no regional salary system,” said Levrat. The Swiss Post Office says that drastic measures must be undertaken for it to remain competitive in a liberalised market. Spokesman Oliver Flüeler told swissinfo: “We have always said that our employees enjoy far better working conditions than others in this sector. However, if we do not become more competitive, this will result in significant problems. Earlier this year, the company announced a major restructuring plan affecting its mail, logistics and transport units. It said it would close post offices and outsource work, potentially resulting in more job losses on top of the 3,000 announced last year. Announcing the restructuring, Swiss Post director Ulrich Gygi said postal workers were overpaid – a claim that roused the ire of trade unions. “The employees saw this comment as a provocation. We were also upset because Gygi had spoken out publicly without informing us first of his point of view,” stated Levrat. Swiss Post remains one of Switzerland’s largest employers with 56,000 staff.