Swiss pilots are angry. They want better working conditions and higher wages. Flight captains and Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss have been negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement (GAV) for months. The fronts have hardened in recent weeks. Are the pilots still on strike in October? Or is it ignored for passengers?
Whether that will happen will be decided in the next few hours. Swiss pilots have until 8 am on Sunday to cast their votes. There are signs that turnout is high – as Blick knows, more than 90 percent of Aerpoers members took part in Friday’s vote.
There is a clear yes trend in pilot circles. “It would be a surprise if the yes vote was less than 70 percent,” one of the pilots tells Blick. Everyone just wants to speak anonymously – for fear of retaliation.
German debate culture?
One thing is clear: in the cockpit of Lufthansa’s subsidiary Swiss, you will seek unity in vain. A Swiss pilot firmly opposes union threats to strike. “My German colleagues brought this strike culture with them,” he says. “We have to solve this differently.” A pilot sees this differently. “Only a strike will get things going in the negotiations,” he was convinced.
A business stoppage puts a strain on Switzerland. According to Blick’s information, the pilots did not plan the strike until the end of next week. So, most of all time is when many Swiss are back from their autumn holidays. “This date makes sense—it should also hurt our employer,” says the pilot. But there is no talk of a strike until the end of October in the latest plans – talks will take place before that.
Is Switzerland giving up at the last minute?
With a yes on Sunday, the strike at Zurich Airport is not yet a reality. The Aeropers union and its pilots continue to hope that the Swiss leadership around CEO Dieter Vranckx will give up at the last second. Otherwise, those who argue that the strike will “really pass” make it clear. “We have never been closer to a strike in Swiss history,” says one.