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Whether in the votes on social policy or the EU dossier: In this political year, the Vaudois are the focus.
At the start of the political year 2024, he is dominating the headlines: Pierre-Yves Maillard, the President of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions. He is the focus of several templates. In the negotiations with the EU, in the initiative for higher premium reductions, which will be voted on in the summer, and in the initiative for a 13th AHV pension, which will be voted on at the beginning of March. The campaign for this was launched today – for Maillard there is a lot at stake.
Pure Maillard politics
7:44 a.m. in Lausanne – the double-decker train arrives on platform 1. SP Councilor of States Maillard and the Green National Councilor Léonore Porchet are joining in to launch the voting campaign for the 13th AHV pension in Bern. This AHV initiative and a second initiative for a higher reduction in premiums are pure Maillard politics. He is primarily concerned with purchasing power and healthcare costs. And one thing must be clear, says Maillard: “If we lose these two referendums, nothing will happen in these areas.”
Legend:
For the top trade unionist, the political year 2024 will be a fateful year: important decisions and negotiations are imminent in his core dossiers.
Keystone/Anthony Anex
The president of the trade union federation is in combat mode. That is exactly his strength. After training as a teacher, he became a union secretary and fought against mass layoffs. The Social Democrat later also used his negotiating skills in the Vaud government – and wrested a deal from FDP finance director Pascal Broulis: Broulis was allowed to reduce corporate taxes. And despite a middle-class majority, Maillard receives an expensive social package.
A tough negotiator
Also in the Vaud government at the time was current FDP National Councilor Jacqueline de Quattro. She says of Maillard: “He is tough, argues well and is very well prepared. He only lets something go if he is convinced that he will get more in return.
On the national stage, Maillard is primarily involved in negotiations on the EU issue. After being against the framework agreement, he also threatened to block the new negotiating mandate. Maillard places his demands cleverly, something his opponent, employer association director Roland A. Müller, also admits to him: “Sometimes I also find him a bit stubborn. The future will show to what extent he is prepared to accommodate.”
All these stories about my power are completely exaggerated.
Whether in the votes on social policy or the EU dossier: there is currently no way around the powerful president of the trade union federation. Maillard himself says: “All these stories about my power are completely exaggerated. I only have the power that people give to unions. And in the end the people have the power.” This is exactly the art of Pierre-Yves Maillard: he only speaks of the collective, even if he himself is at the center of power.