Social conflict in Geneva: Vacation departures under the threat of a strike at the airport

Will the summer holidays start with a strike at Geneva airport? Public Services Union (PSS) Secretary Jamshid Pouranpir answers the question quite simply: “If the board takes the wrong decision, we take action.”

The date ticked is that of this Thursday, June 29, in the morning, when the 22 members of the Board of Directors will meet to vote on the proposed overhaul of the compensation policy presented by management. Depending on the outcome of this vote, a strike could be called immediately.

“All it takes is for the management to change its mind and everyone will go on vacation.”

Jamshid Pouranpir, Union Secretary, Public Service Union (SSP) Secretary

And the trade unionist to affirm that such a social movement is able to paralyze the airport infrastructure at the time of the first major holiday departures. “The staff massively rejects the management’s project,” he continues. Out of the thousand employees of Genève Aéroport, more than 300 employees voted for the strike notice.

A profit of 60 million

In recent months, the situation has become tense in Cointrin around the issue of wages. Because the management, responsible for rethinking the grids, has drawn up a project which could come into force on 1^er January 2024. Why? Two days before the meeting of the board of directors, the management of the Airport has just published a statement to explain.

“Traffic forecasts are close to stagnation for the next decades, as are the financial results. The current compensation model which provides for an automatic linear increase twice as large as the estimated increase in turnover can no longer be maintained.

Jamshid Pouranpir gives another reading of the situation. First, he recalls “the flourishing situation” of the company. Because at Cointrin, the pandemic was quickly forgotten with, in 2022, a profit of 61.8 million francs (which allowed a retrocession of more than 15 million to the State of Geneva). According to him, certain achievements will be sacrificed for the benefit of “a system based on merit, at the discretion of the employer. To obtain a bonus or a progression, it will be necessary to be seen well by the hierarchy and the human resources”, he says.

Aborted mediation

For its part, the Airport indicates that 250 employees “whose professional experience has not been sufficiently taken into account” will benefit from a salary increase while 240 employees “above the salary band” will see their increases. jellies.

“The current compensation model […] can no longer be sustained.”

The management of Geneva Airport

A sign of obvious tension, the Chamber of Collective Labor Relations (CRCT) failed to find common ground between the parties. This means that the decision of the board of directors will be expected on Thursday morning.

In the meantime, the balance of power is engaged on the tarmac. “It is enough that the management changes its mind and everyone will go on vacation,” says Jamshid Pouranpir.

For its part, this same management is rather calm and says “to expect disruptions in operations”. It advises passengers to arrive at least 2.5 hours before their flight in the coming days and to consult its information channels.

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