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Swissport employees report about the revision. A new collective labor agreement is now being negotiated.
The desire to travel has increased again after Corona. At the same time, there is a lack of staff at the airports. The employees of the ground handler Swissport in Zurich feel this. “When the new work plan comes out, I think everyone will have to swallow empty. Everyone thinks how they can survive without their health suffering,” reports a long-time Swissport employee.
A long-time Ramp employee explains: “The burden is very, very large. In recent weeks and months it has become the norm to work six days straight and then only have one day off. It used to be the exception, now it’s the rule.”
Swissport speaks of a challenge
At the request of SRF, the head of the Swissport location in Zurich, Marco Bötschi, admits that there are sometimes six-day weeks. But that’s not the case every week. It is clear, however, that the current situation is a challenge for everyone.
He looks forward to the upcoming summer holidays with respect because he has a great desire to travel. «Over the Ascension Day and Easter, we proved that we can handle high passenger volumes. It is good for us that the number of passengers is spread over the entire summer holidays, in contrast to Easter or Pentecost. But of course it takes another effort.”
Legend:
Swissport employees are currently struggling with a high level of stress.
Keystone (icon image)
At the beginning of the corona crisis, Swissport cut 1,000 of the 2,800 jobs at Zurich Airport through natural fluctuation, the “Landbote” reported. Stefan Brülisauer from the VPOD trade union spoke to SRF about management errors in this context.
In the meantime, Swissport has already hired 300 new employees. But that only helps to a limited extent, because the onboarding of new colleagues is sometimes a burden instead of a relief, says Brülisauer.
Brülisauer fears that Swissport wants to stick to the crisis GAV, although travel is now increasing sharply again. The head of the Swissport location in Zurich, Marco Bötschi, disputes this: “We have been sitting with our social partners since February and are discussing a new GAV. The new solution should not be the crisis GAV. We are striving for a jointly developed solution.»
Protests and CLA Terminations
In these negotiations, the VPOD union demands at least the same conditions as before the corona crisis. A better work-life balance and cost-of-living compensation are also required. A strike is not an issue, but if there is no progress in the negotiations in the next few weeks, Stefan Brülisauer from VPOD can imagine protests being organized and the existing GAV being terminated.
Bötschi would regret this. “That would be a shame and not necessary. At the last negotiation, we already decided on further dates for future meetings. I believe that we have enough time to find a common solution.”
A solution that provides better working conditions for Swissport employees. That’s what the longtime Ramp employee is hoping for. “I have set myself a deadline of the end of the year. If it doesn’t get better, I’ll quit. Even though I actually love my job.”