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The Swiss Commercial Vehicle Association ASTAG does not want nationwide binding wage guidelines from the federal government. Even today, wages in the Swiss road transport industry are fair and appropriate. Therefore, the “Chauffeur Initiative” from Les Routiers Suisses is rejected, as decided by an extraordinary delegate assembly today. Much more important is targeted promotion of young talent.
(Bern) At an extraordinary delegate assembly in Bern, the Swiss Commercial Vehicle Association ASTAG decided today not to support the “Chauffeur Initiative” launched by Les Routiers Suisses LRS in June. The decision was unanimous. Thus, ASTAG will not contribute to the ongoing signature collection, and should the initiative actually come to fruition, the no position will apply.
Binding Minimum Wage
A nationwide binding minimum wage, enshrined in the Federal Constitution, is primarily rejected. Instead, the industry continues to rely on the existing social partnership with LRS, including freedom of contract in wage matters for employers and employees, which has proven to be very effective since 2014. As a representative survey by gfs.bern shows, wages in the Swiss road transport industry are appropriate and fair, averaging over 5,500 francs per month. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO and the Tripartite Commission TPK of the federal government have repeatedly stated that the transport industry behaves correctly in wage matters.
Government Interventions Lead to Wage Equalization Downwards
Before around 120 delegates, Councilor and ASTAG Central President Thierry Burkart emphasized that the “Chauffeur Initiative” is counterproductive: “Government interventions lead to wage equalization downwards!” He urged more commitment to the promotion of young talent from Central President Markus Odermatt and Secretary General David Piras, who participate as representatives of the Routiers in a panel discussion. For years, ASTAG has been successfully striving to motivate as many young people and career changers as possible for a profession in road transport through various actions (e.g., trade fairs, Swiss Skills) – unfortunately without support from LRS. The “Chauffeur Initiative” is now even negative advertising for the entire industry. The profession of driver is unjustly portrayed as much worse than it actually is. “The Routiers are truly undermining the promotion of young talent,” said ASTAG Director Reto Jaussi.
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