1000 construction workers from northwest Switzerland demonstrated in Basel at noon for improvements in the state framework agreement. Your unions Unia and Syna accuse the builders union of demanding radical change. For example, they resist master builders’ demand for a 12-hour workday and a 58-hour week.
Construction workers had gathered shortly after 11:00 at De Wette Park, near the SBB train station. They carried banners that read “Construction stops” or “Stop hourly theft”.
Many drew attention to their anger by whistling loudly. The route took construction workers from Basel city center to Theodorskirchplatz. According to a statement from Unia, more than 400 construction sites came to a standstill.
The contract is valid for 80,000 Büezers
Basel is the third stop in a wave of nationwide protests as part of the renegotiation of the state framework agreement on construction. Demonstrations took place in Ticino in mid-October and in Valais last Saturday. More demonstrations are planned in French-speaking Switzerland and in Zurich.
According to unions, around 7,700 people in the cantons of Basel-Stadt, Baselland and Aargau are subject to state framework agreements. The current government contract, which applies to approximately 80,000 construction workers, expires on 31 December. The final round of negotiations is scheduled to take place on 14 November.
«Selling your health and private life»
Unia and Syna said that the builders will increase their wages at the request of the construction workers. Construction workers must “sell” their health and private lives for a wage increase they are already entitled to due to inflation.
In addition, foremen will categorize veteran construction workers in lower wage brackets and will want to shorten notice periods. The statement said that this attack on the honor of their elderly colleagues for construction workers is unacceptable. (pbe/SDA)