Switzerland - Construction workers win negotiations on pension - December 31, 2018

After 20 rounds of negotiations and an intense labour dispute, unions and employers organisations reached a deal over a new collective agreement for construction workers. In the new agreement the pension age of 60 years is secured and construction workers will get a wage increase of 80 francs per month in both 2019 and 2020. The agreement was not easily reached. Employers wanted to move the minimum pension age to 62 years, earlier retirement would be only be possible if workers gave up 30% of their pension. In reaction to the proposed cuts, thousands of construction workers from all over the country took to the streets in a day of protests and more than 15.000 construction workers engaged in industrial action.