Member Mail 7 / 2023
National Rally for Higher Wages and Pensions:
On 16 September, we will kick off our fight for fair salaries in Bern!
Dear Colleagues
The economy is doing well. Swiss is posting record profits and the company's growth continues smoothly.
The labour market has dried up, many employees are tackling enormous workloads and inflation puts a burden on private household budgets.
Wage increases are mandatory, not only for successful airlines such as Swiss, but also for Swissport, at the airport and throughout the entire aviation industry and its suppliers.
Sadly, our many years of experience have shown that wage increases are not given lightly even in what looks like good times.
Therefore, this is our appeal as part of the Swiss Trade Union Confederation SGB:
National Rally for Higher Wages and Pensions:
On Saturday, 16 September 2023, we will gather in Bern for a peaceful protest, demanding more purchasing power, i. e. proper inflation compensation in wages and pensions. We are fighting for higher salaries and for a 13th AVS pension. In addition, we want to set an
example against the unjust LPP reform.
Meeting Point: Saturday, September 16, 2023, 1.30 pm, Bern, Schützenmatte. We will distribute hats, t-shirts, flags, and other material.
Rally: 2 pm Parade through the city of Bern, 3 pm concert (Da Cruz) and speeches on the Bundesplatz
Travel Options: There are chartered trains from Eastern Switzerland (Rorschach 8:59 am, Zurich 10:53 am: meeting point at HB at 10:30 am (entrance Europallee), SEV is providing snacks and refreshments) and from Western Switzerland (Geneva 10:32 am, with stops in Nyon, Lausanne and Freiburg).
Return Journey: Chartered train at 16:44 towards Rorschach, approx. 4:30 pm towards Geneva.
The decline in purchasing power is escalating this autumn, and this year's wage negotiation rounds will be absolutely crucial. This is why we launched the wage rounds with the press conference extraordinarily early. After three years of real wage losses, massively increased living costs, health insurance premiums and rents, wages must now rise. The situation concerning pensions is even worse: Pension fund pensions are not adjusted to the cost of living, pensioners will lose an entire monthly pension by the end of 2024. This is exactly where our initiative for a 13th AHV pension and the upcoming voting battle come in. The rally for more purchasing power is only the prelude.
Banks are being saved with billions, but the population must tighten their belts. We cannot go on like this. Together, we can defend ourselves against wage and pension theft. We don't receive any gifts. Let's get together and mobilise our collective strength.
Thank you for your support and participation – it is an important basis for successful wage negotiations with your employer!
Kind regards
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