Bundesrat discusses benchmarks for negotiating mandate: Bern and Brussels come together

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And yet it is moving – the EU: relations with Brussels could be on the right track sooner than expected. The Bundesrat is likely to set benchmarks for a negotiating mandate with the EU as early as Wednesday.

This time it was possible with an agreement. After all, the unions should be on board by now. Because with wage protection you are further than with the framework agreement that sank the Bundesrat two years ago. The Vice-President of the EU Commission, Maros Sefcovic (56), has assured the trade unions that Brussels is prepared to guarantee the applicable wage protection. In return, the EU is pushing for the pre-registration period for EU companies fulfilling orders in Switzerland to be halved from eight to four days.

Then four

The unions would have preferred five days, but if wage protection is guaranteed, the pill has of course been swallowed.

Adrian Wüthrich (43), president of the trade union umbrella organization Travailsuisse, says: “If the EU actually makes a legally binding commitment that wage protection remains at the current level, the Federal Council should start negotiations with Brussels on an agreement in the trap.”

The strength of the Union

That is what it sounds like from the top of Unia, the largest trade union. She is the most important member of the second umbrella organization, the trade union federation (SGB). The SGB is seen as a drag on relations with the EU. But much more than half of its members are organized in Unia. That’s where the power and the money are.

However, it is clear to the trade unions that Switzerland must also create the conditions to independently maintain wage protection at the current level. “Especially the employers have to move here. Although she always emphasizes the importance of an agreement with the EU, her actions do not show that she means it,” says Wüthrich.

Higher GAV share

Switzerland should adapt to the EU minimum wage directive, he says, by trying to increase the share of collective bargaining agreements (GAV) from 50 to 80 percent.

Business associations have traditionally opposed this. But they weaken. Economiesuisse no longer has the appeal it once had. The trade association must recover from the appointment of Henrique Schneider (45), a director who could not be retained. And what will happen to the employers’ organization after the departure of chairman Valentin Vogt (62) can be guessed.

It is quite possible that the Federal Council will take some time this summer to work out a mandate. After all, he has no interest in raising the EU issue before the October 22 elections.

UBRL defused

They want to accelerate after the elections, because more hurdles seem to have been cleared. The EU is said to have made concessions to the Citizens’ Union Directive (UBRL). The UBRL should only apply to employees in this country. This eliminates the risk of uncontrolled immigration in our social system.

But right: no one wants to be too happy. No one likes to scare the SVP with the EU topic.

Source:Blick