Member Mail 6 / 2021
- Is Swiss Provoking an Uprising?
- Reka-Card / Date of Birth
Dear Colleagues
The past few days since May 6, 2021 have been particularly turbulent for us and our colleagues at Swiss: While we as a union are in the middle of a marathon of paperwork and meetings, we are also engaged in lively exchanges with anxious members, our trusted representatives and committee members.
Is Swiss Provoking an Uprising?
The bad news the new Swiss CEO delivered on May 6, 2021 hit the employees like a bomb.
After lengthy negotiations and approval of a crisis CLA, a successful fight for a "public aid package worth billions" for Swiss, commitment to getting back in the air with digital proof of being Covid-free and a shift in authority to extend entitlement to the Federal Council, the company’s management hit us with their hammer: Up to 780 colleagues are to lose their jobs, notably a few days before the expected decision on May 12, 2021 on a second extension for short-time work allowances.
Legal Consultation Procedure As Alibi?
In the case of mass layoffs, Swiss law stipulates that the unions can develop proposals "to avoid layoffs, limit their number and mitigate their consequences".
By ordering a short consultation period of just a few days, by delaying the delivery of answers to basic questions and by refusing to grant a realistic deadline, Swiss gives the impression that the company has no interest in high-quality proposals from the unions.
In our statement on May 27, 2021, we have informed Swiss
a) about the fact that they
- failed to provide evidence of their proper implementation of the legal consultation procedure,
- did not provide the required information we requested,
- prevented proper completion of the procedure by setting an unnecessarily tight deadline,
- showed no willingness to find solutions in exchange with the social partners,
- withheld proof of their due report to the responsible cantonal offices until now,
b) about our conviction that
- this procedure dictated by Swiss renders the legally compliant exercise of consultation rights impossible,
- the examination of the Federal Council's decisions of May 12, 2021 (in particular the second extension of short-time work allowances) Swiss had promised was neither recognizably performed nor presented,
- the value and appreciation of the mutually negotiated CLA, which was supported by the staff in a ballot vote, is called into question,
- measures of the current reopening decisions by the Federal Council have not been considered since May 6, 2021,
- compliance with the purpose of public investments and sacrifices is called into question,
- profound cuts in the company structure are being made before the fruits of the multifaceted measures and staff commitment can be harvested or before their effects can be measured,
c) about our demand that Swiss suspend all restructuring measures during the second phase of their entitlement to short-time work allowances due to the constantly changing situation and that any planned measures based on updated forecasts, considering market developments in the coming months at the end of this "second phase", while adhering to proper social partnership procedures.
We now expect a statement from Swiss by 31 May, 2021 at the latest. Should Swiss remain on the wrong track, we are prepared to take further steps.
Online Information from "Discussions with SEV-GATA"
We were in regular contact with our trusted representatives and board members. We offer all Swiss employees governed by the ground staff CLA the option of an online exchange on Monday, May 31, 2021, 2 p.m. with the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81799606215?pwd=a3pMRTF4NXphalhSTFN0Y1RUNko1Zz09
Meeting-ID: 817 9960 6215
Kenncode: 454349
We are also available to our members for individual advice, representation of interests and legal protection.
Reka-Card / Date of Birth
SEV members can withdraw up to 600 Francs of Reka money per year with a discount of 10 percent, which results in a saving of 60 Francs. In 2021, you will again have the opportunity to withdraw Reka money at a discount. From May 2021, you will receive your own, handy Reka Card instead of the old Reka Checks.
All members have received a direct letter from Reka on this matter. However, Reka needs the full contact details of our members, including their date of birth. All members who did not give us their date of birth when they joined have not received a letter from Reka and will therefore no longer be able to withdraw Reka money in the future.
Thus, in your own interest, please report your date of birth to . Please do not forget to inform us about any changes (address, employer, email, phone, etc.) in a timely manner. This ensures that you continuously receive all information from us. Many thanks.
SEV-GATA members are part of a local, regional, national and global movement – the international trade union movement. Becoming a member is worthwhile!
Your colleague
Philipp Hadorn, President
SEV-GATA, your union in the aviation industry!
Philipp Hadorn, President GATA: SEV-Aviation
/ www.sev-gata.ch / www.sev-online.ch