Wednesday big strike day: That’s why the women are back on the street

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On to the strike. Four years after the last major women’s strike in Switzerland, many women will take to the streets again on Wednesday 14 June. Demonstrations and other protest actions have been announced in dozens of cities.

Organizers hope the day will mobilize a similar number of people as in 2019, when hundreds of thousands of women demonstrated for equal rights. But what are the protesters about this year? Blick answers these and other questions.

Who is behind the strike?

The Swiss Federation of Trade Unions decided last November to organize another major women’s strike in June. In addition to the trade unions, various regional strike collectives are also part of the organizing committee. In addition, Greens, Young Greens, SP and Juso support the strike.

Why is the women’s strike officially called a “feminist strike”?

Concerning the concerns – see the next question – basically nothing has changed. The new name for the day should make it clear that not only women are called to strike, but also all others who support the feminist demands.

What demands are the protesters making?

This year, the trade unions are paying attention to the situation of women at work. They demand equal pay for equal work, higher pensions, shorter and more predictable working hours, introduction of parental leave and zero tolerance for sexual violence in the workplace.

A lot has happened in recent years, for example paternity leave of two weeks has been introduced and the sex criminal law has been changed. But that’s not enough for the organizers. For example, the strike collectives demand a minimum of one year of parental leave and a national minimum wage of CHF 4,500 or CHF 5,000 for those who have completed their apprenticeship.

Where are demos held?

From Geneva to Rorschach, from Schaffhausen to Bellinzona: Strikes will take place in nearly fifty cities and municipalities on Wednesday. In Bern, for example, a “feminist rural community” is held in the afternoon, in Zurich there is strike soup, in Baden AG there is dancing. An overview can be found here.

Should I be afraid of consequences if I, as an employee, go on strike that day?

That depends on the employer. In many companies, employees are expected to take time off if they want to participate in a strike – or to make up for absences. The fact is that the employer is not obliged to continue to pay wages if someone joins the strikers on Wednesday. Whether this can even be grounds for termination is controversial among experts. In any case, it is advisable to clarify in advance with the manager what a mutually acceptable solution looks like.

Why is the strike taking place on June 14?

The date goes back to June 14, 1981. On that day, Swiss voters said yes to the equality article in the constitution. This makes it possible, for example, to go to court for pay discrimination. On January 14, 1991, ten years after this decision, the first major women’s strike took place. Hundreds of thousands of women took to the streets to demand their rights. The women’s strikes of 2019 and 2023 refer to this history.

Source:Blick