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In addition to compensating for high inflation, is there another one percent more? The dispute between the social partners is in full swing.
Wage demands of more than 3 percent are unusual in Switzerland. But this year all unions are demanding at least the cost-of-living adjustment. At the beginning of the week, Travail Suisse explained why wages would have to rise by between 3 and 5 percent, and the Unia building trade union is now also demanding inflation adjustments plus 1 percent.
The one additional percent roughly corresponds to the average increase in productivity per year, explains Nico Lutz, Head of Construction at Unia. With the current inflation rate of 3.4 percent, that is 4.4 percent.
The additional percent roughly corresponds to the average increase in productivity per year.
The unions are under pressure. From the trade unions’ point of view, there shouldn’t be a zero round this year, otherwise wages will fall in real terms. But the situation is also new for employers.
challenging negotiations
“Prices of this magnitude make wage negotiations more demanding,” notes the director of the employers’ association, Roland Müller. The basic idea, especially on the employee side, is to at least compensate for inflation.
But that should also be clear to employers, Lutz believes. Wages would have to rise for everyone, otherwise they could afford less with their income. Lutz therefore calls for general wage increases plus a share in productivity gains: “Wages must rise in general because life is becoming more expensive for everyone. Otherwise, the lower income groups in particular will suffer a loss of purchasing power.”
Employer: depends on company or industry
General wage increases can be checked, and this is the only way to prevent those with low incomes from being left behind, emphasizes Lutz.
With inflation of the current magnitude, there will be a general share.
Unlike in other years, the director of the employers’ association shows understanding: “With inflation of the current magnitude, there will be a general share. Especially in the low-wage sector in order to maintain purchasing power. How high that will be is not only a question of current inflation, but also of the possibilities of the company or the industry. »
And at this point, there is no consensus: Müller believes that the companies should be able to decide for themselves. After all, not everyone got through the pandemic equally well. And although a wide variety of industries are currently booming, there are also signs of worse times.
Legend:
The pay gap widened further in 2021. A new Unia study of the wage structure in 43 Swiss corporations shows that the highest wages have increased and the lowest wages have stagnated. The groups examined also paid out higher dividends.
Keystone/Christian Beutler
Are demands of 5 percent excessive?
Müller cites the uncertain energy supply and the weakening economy in the USA and China as examples. Demands of up to 5 percent are therefore excessive.
Lutz disagrees: “If you were to demand a general wage increase in the range of 5 to 10 percent, you could accept this argument. But if it’s about balancing out inflation, that’s not a driver for the recession.” Things are going very well in many sectors at the moment, and they also have to look for skilled workers.
Things are going very well in many sectors at the moment. They also have to look for skilled workers.
Example gastronomy
In the catering trade, the contracting parties have already agreed: the increase in prices will be compensated for everyone, and there will be an additional wage increase for various groups. Müller finds this a good example of how employers offer a hand. Lutz describes it as the first success. This could also be the case in other sectors.