SEV-GATA newsletter – Swiss Technics Shift Models: Update on Our Negotiations with Swiss and SEV-GATA Survey Results
Dear Colleagues,
As you already know, SECO will not extend the exemption for the Swiss Technics 5:5 night shift model beyond the end of 2025. For this reason, we are in the process of developing a new model with a dedicated task force. Within this group, SEV-GATA has spent the past few months exploring potential solutions and limitations with Swiss management. Despite our efforts and proposals, we have not yet agreed on a mutually acceptable result. However, proper negotiations are now scheduled for September. The basis will be the 5:5 model, with a particular focus on the number of additional working days.
Results of the Survey Among Swiss Technics Employees Working in Shift Models
Thank you very much for your numerous participation in our survey (7–25 July) via "umfrageonline.ch”! The high response rate makes the survey highly representative. Here are the results:
Questons 1–3: concerning participants’ years of service, their department, and how they currently work additional days.
Question 4: If shift schedules need to be changed, what is your top priority? (Rank 1, 2, and 3)? – Maintaining the current rotation scheme = 1st priority for 73,3% of participants. Maintaining the same salary = 2nd priority for 65,8%. Avoiding additional workdays (« additional days ») = 3rd priority for 70,2%.
Question 5: If Swiss imposes a new shift schedule that significantly affects your ability to commute home/abroad after the work block: How likely are you to consider resigning? Scale 1-5: 1 = I will not leave Swiss = 8,51%, 2 = 6,81%, 3 = 17,5%, 4 = 26,0%, 5 I will definitely leave Swiss = 41,3%.
Question 6: Would you accept a day-night rotation (alternating day and night shifts)? Scale 1-5: 1 = I would never accept = 70,4%, 2 = 11,7%, 3 = 5,61%, 4 = 4,59%, 5 = I would definitely accept = 7,65%. (Without participants who already work day-night shifts.)
Question 7: Would you accept a three-shift rotation (early, late and night shift)? Scale 1-5: 1 = I would never accept = 73,2%, 2 = 9,21%, 3 = 4,82%, 4 = 4,39%, 5 = I would definitely accept = 8,33%.
Question 8: How likely are you to accept a change to your current shift schedule? Scale 1-5: 1 = I would never accept = 45,5%, 2 = 30,7%, 3 = 14,7%, 4 = 4,33%, 5 = I would definitely accept = 4,76%.
Question 9: Do you believe that your current salary, considering your tasks and responsibilities, aligns with the market standard in Switzerland? Scale 1-5: 1 = I strongly disagree = 55,8%, 2 = 24,8%, 3 = 11,1%, 4 = 4,87%, 5 = I fully agree = 3,54%.
Question 10: If you regularly work at night (between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.), do you consider the shifts allowances to be reasonable? Scale 1-5: 1 = I strongly disagree = 66,4%, 2 = 18,2%, 3 = 10,2%, 4 = 0,730%, 5 = I fully agree = 4,38%. (Only participants who regularly work night shifts.)
Question 11: If you regularly work at night (more than 25 night shifts per year), do you consider the time bonus of 10% to be reasonable? Scale 1-5: 1 = I strongly disagree = 70,5%, 2 = 14,8%, 3 = 5,74%, 4 = 1,64%, 5 = I fully agree = 7,38%. (Only participants who regularly work night shifts.)
Question 12: How likely are you to be willing to actively participate together with SEV-GATA, for example through a petition, protest action or similar activities? Scale 1-5: 1 = in no case = 4,41%, 2 = 5,73%, 3 = 11,5%, 4 = 21,6%, 5 = in all cases = 56,8.
Conclusion: The survey confirms the positions SEV-GATA has represented so far in the meetings with Swiss. It also shows that most of you are willing to participate in union action to secure good shift models if the situation requires it.
With the confirmation of the 5:5 model as the negotiation basis, we have already achieved an interim success. As mentioned, the main issue will now be the number of additional working days.
We will keep you informed about negotiations with Swiss and are happy to answer any questions.
Kind regards,
SEV-GATA, your union in the aviation industry!
Regula Pauli, SEV Union Secretary
Tel. +41 79 464 37 32