PublishedApril 29, 2024, 5:18 p.m.
Geneva: Increases in retirement contributions: “angry” unions
Civil service staff representatives are opposed to the plan to reform 2nd pillar contributions, desired by the Executive.
Part of the civil service took to the streets at the end of last year to obtain an increase in salary indexation.
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“We are angry,” summarized the president of the Inter-Union Cartel, Geneviève Preti, on Monday. Alongside twelve components, the umbrella body of state staff associations has said how badly it feels about the increases in their retirement insurance contributions desired by the Council of State.
The Executive tabled several bills last Wednesday to increase the share paid by employees, from 33.3% to 42%, for new civil servants only. This overhaul would save 14 million by 2027. “It’s the hospital that doesn’t care about charity,” thundered Jean-Luc Ferrière, co-secretary of the Interprofessional Workers’ Union (SIT), recalling the error rate of 20% of the latest budget projects and the profits announced in the end (editor’s note: 1.4 billion in 2023). “Where is the financial problem? It’s a political project!”
“On the backs of young people”
Geneviève Preti pointed out an “imbalance” between potential savings and the impact on the wallets of civil servants: “The State gains 0.04%, while, for the employee, it is a loss of between 1, 7% up to more than 3%, she highlighted. These are useless and unfair bills, since they will be done on the backs of young people.” For a nurse who would start today, the measure represents a loss equivalent to eleven months of salary, indicated Quentin Stauffer, secretary of the Public Services Union (SSP).
Loss of attractiveness
Several speakers noted that “conditions have worsened” with regard to retirement: the age has increased and part of the contributions are used to recapitalize the Geneva State Provident Fund (CPEG), particularly underlined Patrick Flury, vice-president of the Union of Cantonal Administration Civil Servants (UFAC). Within the police, “we went from 30 to 37 years of contributions,” explained Yves Brand, of the judicial police union. He believes that with such conditions, “it exposes new police officers to increased risks of corruption”.
The project would also impact the attractiveness of the positions. At Geneva Public Transport (TPG), “there is already a labor shortage,” noted Aurélie Lelong, secretary of the Transport Staff Union (SEV). The Council of State is shooting itself in the foot.”
Referendum “considered”
Faced with this reform, the staff representatives want for the moment to “send a message” to the parties of the Grand Council “so that they refuse these bills altogether”. However, they say they are ready to take action. According to a survey by the Union of Secondary Teachers (UNION), 55% said they were committed to striking to maintain the contribution rate and benefits. “The referendum is being considered,” added Geneviève Preti. We hope we won’t get to that point, but we have the strength to do so.”
