Violations
Increased repression against trade unionists: Several trade unions have denounced the increase in the number of cases of intimidation, prosecutions or arbitrary dismissals of trade unionists. Two trade unionists at Radio-Fribourg were dismissed in February for “the loss of mutual trust”, the reason cited by the employer. They were about to present the employees’ views to the board of management. They were accused of not accepting new management structures. The Communauté genevoise d’action syndicale highlighted other cases. An employee representative of the “Fort Barreau” Home was dismissed following repeated pressure from his employer. A few months from retirement, a delegate of the Fondation Saint-Gervais was “released from his duties” on account of his political commitment to save this institution. At the Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève, a delegate was prosecuted for defamation by a departmental head in a case of psychological bullying and who nonetheless had management support.
Two cases of physical violence against trade unionists.: On 8 July in Neuchâtel several trade union activists from the inter-professional trade union, Unia, including a pregnant woman were manhandled by security guards from Protectas, the company engaged by Voumard Machines to screen entrants to a press conference to announce the launch of an employee consultation process in advance of the company closure. In October, a Unia trade unionist was also physically attacked by the contractor Hanspeter Jörg on a building site in Wilderwill (the canton of Bern).
Two disappointing verdicts involving two trade unionists dismissed in 2009: On 13 July in Zurich the Labour Court confirmed the unfairness of the dismissal of Daniel Suter, Editor and Chairman of the Staff Committee at TA-Média, the leading Swiss media group, during negotiations for a social plan. The judgement however, only awarded compensation of three months’ salary. This was also the case in the dismissal of an employee representative at the Manor department store in Geneva, Marissa Prolong, dismissed in 2009 for criticising the poor working conditions and wages in the retail sector in the press. A federal court rejected the Unia trade union’s appeal to reinstate the delegate.
Complaints and improper recourse to law enforcement during trade union actions: Many employers improperly filed complaints for “forced” or “unlawful entry” during legitimate trade union activities such as leaflet distribution. These complaints were generally not followed up; however some workers and trade unionists were prosecuted or summoned and interrogated by the police. This was the case when the Balexert shopping centre in Geneva, managed by the Migros group (often criticised for anti-trade union practices) forbade access to Unia and SIT trade union activists. During the workers
strike
strike
The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.
See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike
at Swissport in Geneva, the police intervened to prevent strikers from entering the airport buildings.
