Trade unions
Large demonstration in Bern: Over 15,000 people take to the streets for higher wages
More than 15,000 people gathered in Bern on Saturday afternoon to demonstrate for higher wages.
According to the statement, the demonstrators demanded wage increases of up to five percent. The unions, including Unia, criticized the fact that real wages had fallen for three years in a row. At the same time, many things had become more expensive. People and families with low and middle incomes were hit “particularly hard” by this.
Demonstrators in Bern are demanding more money under the slogan “It’s high time for higher wages”.
Bild: Anthony Anex / Keystone
That is why the largest Swiss trade union called for a large “wage demonstration” in Bern. According to a statement from Unia, over 15,000 employees from all over Switzerland followed the call to Bern.
“We won’t settle for peanuts!”
Vania Alleva, President of Unia, said: “We expect substantial and general wage increases in the wage negotiations in the autumn. We will not be satisfied with peanuts!”
Pierre-Yves Maillard, the president of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions, is quoted in a statement as saying: “Employees have less money in their wallets today than they did five years ago, even though the economy is doing well. Without wages being adjusted to inflation, the population will become poorer.”
The demonstration began at 2 p.m. The closing rally took place at 3 p.m. on Bundesplatz. Even before the demonstration, the Bern city police assumed that there would be major traffic restrictions in the city center until 5 p.m. (fan)
