State employees in canton Vaud, western Switzerland, are continuing to press for higher wages. On Tuesday some 3,000 people took to the streets in Lausanne in support of this demand. The trade unions, however, have signalled a willingness to compromise.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ts
Not as many people turned out for this sixth demonstration as on January 31, when between 5,000 (according to the police) and 10,000 people (source trade unions) took to the streets. Most recently, the number of rally participants had dropped to 1,500.
At the end of the demo the unions called on those present to “keep up the pressure on the cantonal government”, which it described as “contemptuous of humanity” and which “only understands the mobilisation of the street”.
The reason for the labour dispute was the cantonal government’s decision in December to increase the wages of state employees by 1.4% from the beginning of 2023. However, this was not enough for the public sector workers, who demanded a full inflation adjustment of 3%.
More
More
Swiss face biggest loss of purchasing power since 1942
This content was published on
Wages in Switzerland are not keeping pace with inflation, and in 2022 the purchasing power of employees has dropped significantly.
After two rounds of talks between union representatives and the cantonal government, a possible compromise is now emerging. Last week the unions rejected an offer from the cantonal government as “insufficient” and left the negotiating table “disappointed”.
Meanwhile, a counterproposal by the trade unions is on the table. This concerns the “cost-of-living bonus” of CHF15 million ($16.3 million) proposed by the Vaud government last Wednesday. Instead of this bonus being paid all at once in 2024, as envisaged by the cantonal government, the unions want it to be included in the November and December 2023 salaries.
“We will give the cantonal government time to respond,” said David Jeanquartier, general secretary of the Vaud public and parastatal sector union. He expects the cantonal government to come back with another proposal.
More
More
Unions call for 4-5% wage increase amid rising inflation
This content was published on
Swiss trade unions are calling on employers to increase real wages in response to rising inflation and higher energy prices.
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
An atomic ‘tick-tock’ with Swiss technology heads to space to test the Einstein effect
This content was published on
On Monday, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the ACES set of atomic clocks to measure the effect of gravity on the passage of time.
Swiss Guard swearing-in ceremony postponed following Pope Francis death
This content was published on
The swearing-in ceremony of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, which usually takes place on May 6 each year, has been postponed to a date to be announced next autumn.
Swiss medical device maker Ypsomed to sell diabetes business
This content was published on
Bern-based injection device manufacturer Ypsomed announced on Tuesday that it was selling its diabetes-related activities.
Award-winning Swiss author and scholar Peter von Matt dies aged 87
This content was published on
The Alemannic writer and former professor of German literature Peter von Matt died on Monday in Zurich at the age of 87, following a long illness.
Swiss foreign minister spoke with Iranian counterpart about US dialogue
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has spoken with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi about the current dialogue between the US and Iran.
Swiss foreign minister appeals for cohesion and dialogue at Expo in Japan
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis called for cohesion and dialogue at the opening of the Swiss National Day at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, on Tuesday.
Switzerland postpones launch of emergency number for domestic violence victims
This content was published on
The launch of the “142” emergency number, which aims to help victims of domestic violence in Switzerland, has been postponed to May 2026.
2023 salary talks offer mixed picture, says Swiss union
This content was published on
Travail.Suisse says workers will receive big pay rises next year but these won't compensate for the higher cost of living.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.