A major austerity plan proposed by the Government has sparked strong opposition from the Union of Public Service Personnel (VPOD), which warns that the so-called “Relief Package 2027” would severely undermine public services and the workers who provide them. Despite consistent budget surpluses and federal reserves exceeding CHF 120 billion (€ 128 billion), the Federal Council is proposing sweeping cuts to pensions, education, social services, public transport, childcare, and climate protection. VPOD argues these cuts are ideologically driven and economically unjustified. The union criticises the package’s shift of financial burdens onto cantons and private households, which it says will deepen inequality and reduce purchasing power. VPOD also warns that the package will place additional pressure on public sector workers by triggering austerity measures at both federal and cantonal levels.
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For more information, please contact Paul de Beer or Oana Ciuca, De Burcht (Scientific Bureau for the Dutch Trade Union Movement) p.t.debeer@uva.nl or the Head of communications at the ETUI, Mehmet Koksal mkoksal@etui.org. For previous full issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit https://www.etui.org/Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter or consult the archive with all articles in our database at www.cbnarchive.eu.
You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org.