Economiesuisse, the umbrella organization for companies, is offering more flexibility in working hours to curb energy consumption next winter. But for the president of the Swiss Trade Union Pierre-Yves Maillard, this measure does not solve anything. We must above all invest in production, which must return to public hands.
Economiesuisse suggests temporarily shifting working hours to evenings or weekends when possible. The information was published on Friday in the Tages-Anzeiger. The apex of economic circles hopes to smooth energy consumption and increase the chances of not overloading the energy system next winter in Switzerland.
Asked Friday in the 12:30 of the RTS, the president of the Swiss Trade Union Union (USS) underlined from the start that this proposal was “so vague” that it is very difficult to comment. “We do not know in which sectors or in what proportion this work would be compensated, better paid, etc.”, notes Pierre-Yves Maillard, who sees only a trial balloon. “No, it doesn’t hold up, it doesn’t solve anything”.
For the Vaudois, this proposal confirms a desire of Economiesuisse for a number of years. “They want to make people work on Sundays, reduce rest time at night, since long before the energy crisis,” he denounces.
“It’s the volume of energy production that counts”
“It’s the same thing when they want to increase the opening time of stores, as if purchasing power could spread out”, adds the president of the USS using colorful language: “It there is the same jar of jam. It is not because we spread it out that there will be more”.
For energy, it’s the same thing, continues Pierre-Yves Maillard. “The peak of activity can be regulated by spreading out the work a little, but what counts today is the volume of energy production. And in the urgency of the possible crisis of next winter , “it will be necessary to find solutions in terms of energy savings”, he underlines.
The necessary return to energy monopolies
The Vaud national councilor wants above all to look further. “What Economiesuisse does not question, which few people question, is one of the root causes of the situation in which we find ourselves”, he notes.
“When we were in monopoly regimes in Europe 20 to 30 years ago, with public service players who were responsible for developing the infrastructure, producing enough and having production reserves, these players had the obligation to have up to 20-30% of production capacity in reserve to be able to manage peaks, shortages or crisis situations”, recalls the president of the USS.
When we liberalized everything in Europe, “we abolished these production reserves which were additional costs”, he continues. “And now, we find ourselves in the situation where we are dependent on a supplier, without production reserve”.
For the socialist, it is therefore necessary to invest. “As soon as possible, we must restore conditions where those who invest in energy will have the guarantee that their production will be purchased at a sufficient price”.
Interview by Yann Amedro/oang
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