ASTAG Opposes State Wage Dictation in the Transport Industry

The Swiss Commercial Vehicle Association ASTAG is very skeptical about the “Chauffeur Initiative” launched today by Les Routiers Suisses. Wages in the road transport industry are fair, and further state interventions would be unnecessary or even counterproductive. The definitive position of ASTAG will be determined at an extraordinary delegate assembly.

(Bern) The existing social partnership in Swiss road transport has proven effective. In several agreements at the national and cantonal levels, important achievements have been negotiated for the mutual benefit of employers and employees, in addition to the legal requirements. The Swiss Commercial Vehicle Association ASTAG therefore notes with disappointment and great skepticism that Les Routiers Suisses LRS, the association of professional drivers, apparently wants to take a different path. With a so-called “Chauffeur Initiative,” which was officially launched today with publication in the Federal Gazette, binding uniform wages for goods and passenger transport are to be mandated nationwide through a constitutional provision. “The social partnership is thus unilaterally and unnecessarily called into question by LRS,” says Senator and ASTAG Central President Thierry Burkart: “This is a clear breach of trust!”

Fair Wages According to Representative Survey

In principle, the wage level in Swiss road transport with trucks and coaches is already appropriate and fair today. As a representative survey conducted by the market and opinion research institute gfs.Bern in May 2022 has shown, the average wage is over 5,500 francs per month. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO and the Tripartite Commission TPK of the federal government have also repeatedly stated that the transport industry behaves correctly in wage matters for the most part. Compared to other industries, there is no above-average rate of abuse.

Continuation of Contract Freedom

ASTAG therefore places great importance on the continuation of contract freedom. Wages should be negotiated individually between employers and employees. It is also of central importance to continuously develop the existing agreements and regulations at the cantonal level – as has been done regularly in the past – under the responsibility of the sections of ASTAG and LRS. This has often led to satisfactory resolutions of the very rare but system-related disagreements (also in wage matters). State interventions, on the other hand, are unnecessary, cost-increasing, and even counterproductive – they lead to a wage dictation, a downward wage adjustment, and unacceptably high enforcement costs.

The initiative is also negative advertising and thus damaging to the image of the entire industry. Above all, the profession of driver is portrayed much worse than it actually is – which further complicates the already difficult search for enough skilled workers. “Les Routiers Suisses are doing a disservice to our common goal of finding enough new talent,” said ASTAG Director Reto Jaussi.

Extraordinary Delegate Assembly

For a final decision on how ASTAG will position itself regarding the “Chauffeur Initiative” or support the signature collection, an extraordinary delegate assembly will take place at the appropriate time. In the past, the central board has repeatedly expressed itself very clearly against nationwide binding minimum wages. “The labor market in the road transport industry is functioning well,” emphasizes Central President Thierry Burkart: “No additional regulation is needed!”

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