Tram and bus drivers tested commuters’ patience for two days. The teaching staff also insists on higher wages. Inquiries from other cantons show that Geneva is not doing so badly.
It was better not to wait at a Geneva tram stop on Thursday: unlike on Wednesday, there was not even minimal operation because of the strike.
Wednesday was already demanding. But it only got really difficult for the people of Geneva on Thursday – at least for all those who were dependent on public transport. The reason for this was a strike by the transport company employees. After at least a minimum service could be maintained the day before, the system collapsed completely on Thursday.
Only seven trams ran on the extensive network in the morning – and you didn’t even have to look for buses: Not a single one of them drove because all the exits from the depots had been blocked. Responsible for this were not employees of Transports publics genevois (TPG) – they had undertaken in 2018 to refrain from such actions – but sympathizers of the strikers. The TPG management is considering legal action against them.
The tram and bus drivers demanded an inflation adjustment of 1.2 percent, the management only wanted to give them half and a bonus. The unions were able to negotiate a compromise on Thursday afternoon. The management grants an additional indexation from 2023, but the premium is lower. The strike was over, and from Friday morning the company network was working normally again.
A huge deficit is imminent in 2023
At the same time as the chauffeurs, Geneva state employees went on strike on Wednesday (the TPG is an independent company, which, however, belongs entirely to the public sector). According to initial estimates, almost a thousand people took part, with teachers being by far the largest professional group. She also demands higher wages in the first place.
It’s not that Geneva doesn’t grant its employees cost-of-living compensation, 79 million francs are planned for 2023. In view of the forecast deficit of CHF 419 million, the State Council does not want to go any further. Other cantons dig deeper into their pockets proportionately.
So the question arises as to the wage level of employees in the canton and in state-related companies in Geneva. A final comparison is not possible. But a survey of other cantons that are also urban shows that the people of Geneva have nothing to complain about compared to their colleagues.
Probably the best wages in Europe
The difference in teaching staff is impressive: Geneva primary school teachers earn no less than 97,000 francs gross in their first year after training. It is probably the highest starting wage in Switzerland (and probably in Europe), which is also related to the fact that in Geneva – as the only canton – all teachers have to go through a four-year university education.
In Zurich, the same person would earn “only” 93,000 francs a year. Even that is already a good wage: in Basel-Stadt, a trained teacher earns around 90,000 francs in the first year, in Berne 77,000 and in Vaud only 74,000 francs. In other cantons, wages tend to rise a little more over the years than in Geneva.
Geneva is expensive
In the case of transport companies, the differences are less striking. But this also shows that Geneva’s bus and tram drivers are in a comparatively good position: in the first year after training, they receive a good 60,000 francs. In the city of Zurich’s public transport company, it’s more (66,000 francs), but the lowest starting wage in Basel-Stadt (54,000 francs) and in the city of Bern is lower (58,000 francs). The wages at the Lausanne transport company are comparable to those in Geneva.
What all numbers have in common is that they should be treated with caution. Although the salary tables are publicly available or at least available on request, the specific wages can deviate from these minimum rates depending on the starting age, training, professional experience, night and weekend work – notabious for the tram and bus drivers. Employers also differ in terms of working hours, pension fund benefits and family allowances.
There are also objective reasons why Geneva pays “better” salaries than other cantons. The cost of living is among the highest in the world, in Switzerland only Zurich is at a comparable level. Above all, rents and health insurance premiums are having a major impact in the westernmost canton of Switzerland. Nevertheless, after two intensive days of strikes, it can be stated that the employees of the state and state-related companies in Geneva do not have to hide their wages.