Media Report may 21, 2014
SEV-GATA critizises SWISS company cultureSWISS: CLA solution despite job cuts
With lay-offs and CLA conflicts the flagship of the Swiss airline industry makes the headlines. The previous day job-cuts having been communicated in Basle, today the focus is on the CLA agreement for ground staff. Within the industry the results look quite respectable.
“New job cuts at SWISS head office in Basle raise questions“, Philipp Hadorn, president SEV-GATA and union secretary, comments on SWISS’ decision to introduce automation in “Passenger Revenue Accounting“. Cutting 12 jobs out of about 40 in this department will probably lead to seven dismissals. This way cost-cutting measures are continued unabated in “Shared Services” throughout the group of companies.
In December 2013 SWISS cancelled the CLA for ground staff as per June 30, 2014. With a cost-cutting target of 3,5 to 4 % of the costs SWISS put pressure on the unions. The agreement now provides that the weekly working hours are increased from 41 to 42 hours; whereas the basic salary will be increased by 1 %, salary scales raised, variable parts of the wages reduced and controlled by a new model, Pikett compensations improved and the regular retirement age fixed at 64 years. Employees from the age of 55 and over will be offered job protection until their early retirement, which is theoretically possible at the age of 58. “SEV-GATA committee considers the current results acceptable giving the staff the desired legal security in an environment of constant reorganisation and an insecure airline industry market”, says Philipp Hadorn.
But the employees will have the final say. In June SEV-GATA is going to settle the process of ratification with its members and decide on “go” or “no go”. So far SWISS refused to fix the minimum wage of 4000 Swiss francs in the CLA. “SWISS-CEO jeopardized the conclusion of the CLA by intervening and exposing his own head of human resources in the minimum wage discussions out of sheer ideology”, adds Philipp Hadorn – also in his position as a member of the National Council.
GATA: SEV Aviation (Groundstaff Aviation Technics and Administration) ist die Abteilung Luftverkehr des SEV, der Gewerkschaft des Verkehrspersonals.