Unia is always there when it comes to handing out to employers and companies. In the past few weeks, the union has repeatedly been pilloried: “Unia owns real estate worth over half a billion”, was the headline of the “Tages-Anzeiger” in mid-September. Shortly thereafter, the Blick reported that the union was actually much richer and concluded: “The left are the better capitalists.”
So far so good. But now Unia has to take a broadside from its own ranks. A few days ago the left-wing Zürcher Zeitung “PS” published a critical article about “the red landlady”. The main message of the article: Unia is a union that has made a good 200 million Swiss francs in real estate and capital gains since 2005 thanks to the heated property market.
Profits at the expense of the workers
“In contrast to housing cooperatives, the rents for Unia apartments are based on the principle of market rent, ie not just on covering the costs and financing requirements, but on the market price.”
For the “PS” magazine it is therefore clear: the union makes profits at the expense of wage workers.
Serge Gnos, Head of Communications at Unia, defends himself against these allegations from his own camp: “The article gives the impression that we are striving for short-term, maximum returns in our real estate portfolio. That is wrong. “
Below market level in metropolitan areas
Unia thinks very long-term, looks after its property portfolio with care and does not speculate with its properties. “In contrast to housing cooperatives, Unia does not prefer individual members or tenants. That is why we do not offer cost rents. ” The gross returns are very different depending on the property.
In metropolitan areas, where the housing market is very tense, the Unia rents are below market level.
Gnos cannot understand the fundamental criticism of Unia assets: «The assets benefit our members collectively. Nobody derives any personal advantage from it. ” The proceeds would help to get through labor disputes and pay strike money to those involved.