She learns to fear Ermotti

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Natalia Ferrara hasn’t slept much since the Credit Suisse earthquake shook Switzerland. As director of the banking staff association, the 40-year-old is in the middle of a storm. In countless conversations, she listened to the concerns of bank employees, made contacts with politicians – and especially campaigned for the concerns of CS and UBS employees.

“It’s unbelievable: billions are talked about for days, but not about the people who shudder for their jobs,” she scolded. “The focus must finally be on the employees.”

FDP politician in Ticino

Ferrara sounds like a dyed-in-the-wool left hand these days. A union man who goes to the barricades. The fact that she grew up in an Italian working-class family fits the picture. Alone: ​​Ferrara politicizes for free spirit. Since 2015 she has been a member of the Ticino cantonal parliament for the FDP.

“That’s not a contradiction!” She defends herself. “It’s about justice. Responsibility is part of economic freedom.” Justice was already an important subject for her when she was a prosecutor in charge of economic and financial crimes and international legal aid before joining the Bank Staff Association in 2016.

But Ferrara is also concerned about a strong social partnership between employers and employees. “Then it needs fewer regulations from the state.”

Attacks from the Lega

In Ticino, the FDP councilor is one of the political figures. She is repeatedly attacked by the Lega newspaper “Il mattino della domenica”. This includes personal attacks – for example, because she remained a Swiss-Italian dual national as a councillor. “I am proud of my parents and proud of my dual nationality,” Ferrara says firmly. “Like many other people in this country.”

Politically, Ferrara belongs to the social-liberal wing of the Ticino FDP. For example, it is responsible for raising the cantonal minimum wage due to the special situation of cross-border commuters. The same goes for more childcare places, because work-family compatibility is a major concern for the mother of two – her children are two years and six months old. She is campaigning for management staff to work more part-time.

And even before the corona pandemic, she advocated for more home offices. “My focus is on work, work, work – I want good jobs and good working conditions.”

Special measures for CS personnel

This also applies in the current crisis. The acquisition of CS by UBS could cost thousands of jobs. Ferrara calls for a rescue package for the workers. These include a halt to layoffs until the end of the year, a comprehensive social plan, job search support, no layoffs for the over-55s or early retirement. The old and new UBS boss Sergio Ermotti (62) will have to dress warmly.

Ferrara is all the more annoyed that the employee perspective hardly seems to be discussed during the extraordinary session in mid-April. “You can’t save a bank with emergency legislation and state guarantees without thinking about the employees,” she says angrily.

“We need special measures now,” she says. “Conditions must be attached to the commitment credit, so that as many jobs as possible are preserved.” For example, a restructuring can be spread over a longer period of time to give employees more time and to absorb the consequences for the general public. “The vast majority of bank employees are regular employees,” says Ferrara, “and not aloof bankers with huge salaries and bonuses, as the public often says.”

Is the jump to Bern coming?

The earthquake off the banks has put the Ticino in the national spotlight. The fact that she, who studied law in Basel, speaks very good German is an advantage. It is quite possible that she will soon play a role on the national political scene. In 2019, she reached first place on the FDP list in the National Council elections. She will probably try again in the fall elections.

Then maybe even like a previous one. If the Ticino SP councilor Marina Carobbio Guscetti (56) is elected to the cantonal government on Sunday, there will be a by-election. Should one of the National Councilors of Ticino’s FDP win the vacant seat, Ferrara would slip into the National Council.

With “happiness” tattoo

Perhaps the tattoo on her lower leg will also help her: the Chinese symbol for “luck”. “I like tattoos,” she says with a laugh. And adds seriously: “What we need above all is luck for the Credit Suisse situation – we are doing our best for that.”

Source:Blick