On January 7, the Swiss union confederation (USS-SGB) organized its annual press conference. For 2014, it announced a “major commitment” to develop and renew the collective labor agreement (CCT) system. Currently, only 50 percent of Swiss employees work in a company covered by a CCT. The USS-SGB notably wants to lobby the government (Federal Council) and the two Houses of Parliament into amending the laws supervising the CCTs. Besides, a popular vote initiated by unions to introduce monthly minimum wage amounting to CHF 4,000 (€3,238) will be held this year. This double offensive is happening as the – relative – increase in unemployment, economic immigration and low wages is the major concern of Swiss citizens, who are about to vote, on February 9, on a text “to limit massive immigration.”
Extending collective agreement and introducing minimum wage of CHF 4,000. “2014 will be a decisive year for the protection of remuneration in Switzerland,” explained Paul Rechsteiner, leader of the central confederation of Swiss unions, USS-SGB, on January 7. The union has two priorities this year: improving collective labor agreements and organizing a referendum on monthly minimum wage in the amount of CHF 4,000 (€3,238). The date hasn’t been set yet but there are two possibilities: May 18
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