Good Wages and Working Conditions Instead of Closure and Exclusion

Swiss trade unions are championing robust wages and favorable working conditions for all employees, firmly rejecting policies that promote isolation and exclusion. They assert that effective wage protection serves as the most crucial safeguard for workers, irrespective of their nationality.

“

The unions have recently actively engaged against all initiatives that sought to regulate immigration through quotas, the seasonal worker status, or other bureaucratic restrictions.

Recent union efforts have actively countered initiatives seeking to regulate immigration through quotas, seasonal worker statuses, or other bureaucratic restrictions. This stance is rooted in the belief that mistreating immigrant workers ultimately harms all employees. Currently, a significant portion of work hours in Switzerland, 37 percent, is performed by non-Swiss nationals, highlighting the integrated nature of the workforce.

“

It harms all employees when immigrants are treated worse.

The unions' approach marks a significant departure from the past, particularly from the era of the Schwarzenbach initiative in the 1970s. Back then, union leadership often echoed sentiments against perceived "over-foreignization" and called for "plafonierung" (limiting the number of foreigners). A notable shift began with leaders like Ezio Canonica, who championed a more inclusive approach and became a vocal opponent of Schwarzenbach's restrictive views.

“

Migration became a normality for the growing Switzerland in a more international world.

By the 1960s, it became evident that migration was not a temporary phenomenon. As Switzerland became more international, migration normalized, necessitating the unionization of immigrants. The unions found that most immigration did not create competition for native workers but rather complemented the workforce, allowing Swiss citizens to advance more rapidly in their careers. Issues of wage pressure, poor working conditions, and undeclared labor were often linked to unfair corporate practices and lax regulatory oversight, rather than immigration itself. The focus shifted towards fostering mutual understanding and solidarity to fight for equal wages and rights, aiming for social and societal integration.

“

The goal was a policy of social and societal integration.