A federal court ruling gives a glimpse into the fortunes of the Unia union. Accordingly, the largest employee representative in Switzerland owned real estate worth 389 million francs in 2018. The Tamedia newspapers published the number at the beginning of the week. Unia is probably the “most financially strong political organization in Switzerland”, says the report.
However, that is only half the story. Blick was able to see the annual reports from 2005 – the first full business year after the establishment – until today. They show that the class fighters around President Vania Alleva (52) are far better capitalists. Unia keeps two accounts, one for the union organized as an association and a more comprehensive one for the group – only this reveals the true extent of the treasures.
Financial investments of over 300 million ensure political clout
The value of the real estate portfolio before depreciation rose to CHF 623 million at the end of 2020. It includes 2,860 apartments, but also commercial properties, hotels, land reserves and ongoing construction projects. The group also controls three real estate companies and has stakes in two others. By far the most important is Zivag Verwaltungs AG, based in Bern and Zurich, which manages 6500 properties.
Concrete gold only makes up part of the group’s assets. Financial investments are strategically more important. The union hoards 329 million francs – more than five times the annual membership fees – in the form of bonds and shares. “Bonds that can be sold quickly enough are held as liquidity reserves for any special expenses such as labor disputes,” says the 2020 annual report.
Taken together, the value of real estate and securities, at 952 million francs, is just under the billion mark. If you count down mortgage debt and write-offs, that leaves 487 million.
Not even the members get an insight into the consolidated financial statements
The consolidated financial statements are reserved for a manageable group. It is only printed in small editions, 129 delegates vote on it every year, it is not sent to the 180,000 members.
Often low laborers, they transfer an average of CHF 320 a year to the union treasury. Unia communications chief Serge Gnos (49) does not believe that their payment behavior could suffer if they knew about the enormous reserves: “The members are with Unia because they know that we are strong and independent. You receive real consideration in the form of good collective agreements, good working conditions, further training and legal protection. “
Unia benefits from the performance of its predecessor organizations
The assets of Unia have grown historically, emphasizes Gnos. The predecessor organizations GBI, Smuv and VHTL provided the foundation. The goal is long-term value retention, Unia is not interested in quick profits.
Unlike the political opponents Economiesuisse and the employers’ association, Unia cannot approach its members for millions at short notice, says Gnos. “As a rule, capital is on the side of capital. Our assets, however, belong to our members. It helps us to get through labor disputes and pay strike money to those involved. “
The riches were not even known to the political competition. “We knew that Unia owns a lot of properties,” says Bernhard Salzmann (41), Deputy Director of the Swiss Association of Builders (SBV). “But that she has such a large fortune and that it is to be used as a war chest for strikes and labor disputes surprised even us.” The builders’ assets are just 20 million francs. “We do not see ourselves as a war party and therefore do not have a war chest,” says Salzmann.
Civil observers are bothered by the secrecy of the left: “Each local party creates more transparency about its finances,” says Peter Grünenfelder (54), director of the liberal Avenir Suisse Foundation, whose annual budget is 5.5 million francs and is financed by the economy. “The union darkroom, where hundreds of millions are stashed, only has to be lit up for democratic reasons,” demands Grünenfelder.
Without real estate and financial gains, the university would be bankrupt
One thing is clear: Unia would not be able to survive without its previously secret riches. Not only do they serve as a strategic reserve, they also finance the union apparatus. Since it was founded in 2015, Unia has not ended a single year in the black. Soaring personnel costs of 115 million francs most recently plunge them into the red on a regular basis. Over the years, there has been an operating deficit of 188 million Swiss francs. Only the real estate and capital gains of a good 200 million prevented the bankruptcy.