GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Flights in and out of Brussels are being disrupted Monday by a 24-hour strike by Belgium’s three main unions. The 30 January labour action comes at the same time as the Eurozone leaders’ summit to discuss the sovereign debt crisis. The unions’ protest against higher taxes and an austerity programme is causing havoc with air, rail and road traffic.
Geneva flights are so far operating mostly on schedule, but check your airline to confirm, the two airports caution.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The Hug University Hospitals in Geneva and its lab workers have reached an agreement, two weeks after the hospital lashed out at the workers’ union for endangering lives during a work slowdown. The agreement calls for the laboratory workers to have two new work categories labeled as technicians, reflecting changes in their field, and to redefine the training and skills needed for their jobs.
The hospital has argued that it does not have the power over this area, for which only the canton is competent, but it has agreed to a joint work group that will focus on developing job descriptions for the cantonal system, with particular attention to continuing education, and to a joint commission that will be involved various areas, notably staff concerns over the new laboratories being built.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Some 2 million public sector workers are slated to walk out Wednesday 30 November in the UK, affecting schools, hospitals, government offices and public transport, among other services. The strike is over changes to government pension plans, with workers being asked to work longer hours to earn their pensions. The government announced Tuesday it wants to bring forward to 2026 a plan to move the pension age to 67.
Early reports indicate that 75 percent of schools in Britain are affected by the strike.
Prime Minister David Cameron lashed out early Wednesday at the union, holding them responsible for taking labour action while negotiations are going on. The BBC cites General secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers Russell Hobby, that “blame for any rise in union militancy – particularly among moderate unions – belongs fairly and squarely at the government’s door: A failure to negotiate in any meaningful sense until the last minute”.
The 24-hour strike is widely expected to involve up to two million workers, with the BBC labeling it “what is set to be the biggest walkout for a generation”.
Links to other sites: Daily Mail, Guardian, the Scotsman, Telegraph
BERN, SWITZERLAND – Hundreds of construction workers went on strike in Geneva and Lausanne as well as other parts of Switzerland Friday 25 November. The workers gathered in the city centres to protest the collapse of collective contracts talks. The talks ended 2 November without an agreement between unions and the Société suisse des entrepreneur; the current contract ends 31 December.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The Hug university hospitals in Geneva late Tuesday 15 November said it is bringing charges for endangering life against lab workers and the union that is backing them in their hospital strike, following an incident today in the maternity unit. Urgently needed lab results were supplied to medical staff with delays of three to five hours, says the hospital, a clear violation of the guarantee to ensure basic services during a strike.
The hospital is also filing criminal charges against the lab workers’ union (VPOD-SSP) for inciting to endanger the lives of others for its threat to block the immuno-hematology transfusion unit Thursday.
Tensions between the hospital and the union rose Tuesday when the union announced that it will treat only blood units that the Hug buys. This, says the hospital, is only about 115 of the 500-700 needed a week not just by the hospital but also private clinics, doctors’ offices and elsewhere. The entire canton’s blood supplies will thus be “held hostage” says the hospital’s direction.
The other blood units are dealt with by the hospital’s lab, whose workers are striking; the union says the blood products will be treated and stored until after the strike.
But the Hug notes that in the meantime, this will put at risk several units, in particular emergency services, maternity, surgery and the pediatric unit.
Update Sunday 30 October 22:30 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Travellers’ alert: a court has ordered Qantas to resume flights and workers to go back to work after thousands were stranded by a strike Saturday. The Australian airline says it will resume flights Monday afternoon 31 October, Australian time.
Saturday 29 October grounded all flights worldwide, effective immediately, as it locked out three of its labour unions, including pilots and baggage handlers. The company is asking passengers not to go to the airport until further notice, but says it will refund ticket holders who want to cancel their flights.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The Hug university hospitals in Geneva were handed a surprise strike Thursday 6 October by the workers who transport patients and material, and the union for which they work and hospital officials immediately met. The hospital says in a statement issued during the morning that its first preoccupation is the patients, and that they must not be taken hostage by the situation.
The workers’ demands prompted the hospital’s management to suggest three solutions:
- given that the hospital itself does not have responsibility for salaries, which are set by cantonal authorities, it recommends that as a temporary measure both types of transport workers be placed on the same salary scale
- that the hospital can recommend an increase in the number of staff, but for the 2012 budget
- that a reorganization of the service should be put under review.
Infectious diseases prevention projects honoured as international references
The Hug had earlier announced, Thursday evening, brighter news: its penitentiary hospital staff were awarded Wednesday, in Italy, the World Health Organization’s Health in Prisons Project prize. The award was given to the HUG jointly with the Champs-Dollon prison in Geneva, for two projects. Both are considered projects of reference in Switzerland and abroad, notes the HUG: one for measles prevention and the other a syringue-distribution project designed to reduce infectious diseases.
GENEVA / ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – Flights in and out of Greece have been cancelled or in some cases delayed during a two-day nationwide strike 5-6 October that began early Wednesday, over austerity measures.
Swiss has cancelled its two flights to Athens from Geneva today.
Trains are not running, hospitals are operating only on an emergency basis and many schools are closed as the country’s main union, which represents about half the work force according to Reuters, defies the government.
Hundreds of thousands are expected to strike today.
PARIS, FRANCE – Air France cabin crew filed a preliminary notice Monday of plans for a four-day strike from 29 July-1 August. The strike is expected to cover long-haul as well as flights within France, according to Le Monde (Fre), which details the labour dispute between unions and the company.
The strike is designed to force Air France back to the negotiating table over work conditions.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – French newsstands will be missing their daily newspapers Tuesday 14 December. A midnight vote to strike was taken by the union that has a majority at Pressetalis, which controls 80 percent of the distribution of newspapers in the country. The strike is expected to last until noon Wednesday, disrupting Wednesday’s distribution as well. Figaro reports that the union is fighting the reorganization of the company used by Presstalis in the Paris region: the Société de presse Paris service is losing euros 2 million a month, according to the newspaper.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Some 500 ILO (International Labour Organization) employees in Geneva, more than half the total, blocked a meeting of their executive council Wednesday 10 November when they formed a human chain outside the meeting room where the group was scheduled to meet.
The staff of the UN organization are threatening to strike next week if their demands are not met. Two of the issues, the group says, are that the governing board does not respect recruitment practices and the ILO has too many short-term contracts, with little job security.
If the vote next Tuesday is in favour of a strike, it will be the first in the organization’s history.
©2010 Chappatte, distributed by Globe Cartoon. More cartoons on Chappatte’s web site. Geneva-based Patrick Chappatte works for the International Herald Tribune, for Geneva newspaper Le Temps, and for NZZ am Sonntag. All cartoons reproduced with permission.
TGV connections to and from Paris could be cancelled Tuesday 12 October: Lausanne train station
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The SNCF French rail company is warning travellers to expect disruptions to train traffic Tuesday 12 October, with French rail workers planning to strike. The industrial action is part of continuing strikes in France against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plans to raise the retirement age but unlike previous strikes this one has no end date.
TGV’s between Lausanne and Paris as well as Geneva-Paris trains and some to the south of France are expected to be cancelled.
Swiss trains moving, but not much traffic once they reach the French border, 6-8 September
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Rail connections between Switzerland and France are being slowed down and in some cases are operating only intermittently Monday to Wednesday, 6, 7 and 8 September, thanks to a rail strike in France. TGV trains in particular have been hit, with most of the scheduled trains suspended Monday.
Details on trains affected are updated regularly on the Swiss CFF traffic news web page.
Three flights, to Barcelona, London and Milan, were cancelled and several others delayed in Athens Sunday evening when Greek air traffic controllers went on a mini-strike, providing only minimal coverage after a Friday court ruling that a 48-hour strike would be illegal, reports ats/Le Nouvelliste. The cancelled flights to Spain and the UK were Easyjet’s.
Three people have died in Athens and four are reportedly missing after a fire bomb hit a bank in central Athens. The victims were Marfin bank employees, according to CNN, and another 20 employees are reported to be trapped on floors above the fire. Several cars, trash bins and buildings have been set on fire elsewhere in the city as the anti-austerity measures strike and protests turn violent.
Frankfurt, Germany (GenevaLunch) - Lufthansa, the parent company of airline Swiss, had an operating loss of €330 million during the first three months of 2010, and a net loss of 298m, more than expected by analysts and a larger net loss than during the same period in 2009, €267m. The company blamed a pilots’ strike, which cost it €50m, as well as higher fuel costs and the consolidation of takeovers of two airlines, Austrian and bmi. The board says it expects nevertheless to end the year with a smaller loss than in 2009, thanks to growth in passenger and cargo traffic.
Links to other sites: Lufthansa (results available 5 May), Wall Street Journal
Post-walk “strike” by 20 prisoners designed to show solidarity with man who died in fire
Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Twenty prisoners detained at Bois-Mermet in Lausanne refused to return to their cells Tuesday 27 April following their 08:00 walk, to show their solidarity with the family of a 30-year-old Swiss man, who died 11 March when smoke from the mattress he’d set on fire killed him.
Police say the men and prison officials negotiated all morning, and in the early afternoon police arrived and negotiations began again. The group returned to their cells at 16:30 without any incidents.
The circumstances surrounding the death of the man who died at the Bochuz prison in Vaud, has been in Swiss headlines for the past few weeks, and the death is currently under investigation by an independent judge appointed by Vaud authorities.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The French SNCF railway workers are on strike, with numerous trains between Switzerland and France not running Wednesday 7 April. Media predictions earlier were that one in four TGV trains between Geneva, Lausanne, Basel or Zurich and Paris might not be running Wednesday, but in the end TGV service is very restricted. There are considerable slowdowns on non-TGV routes, reports the CFF Swiss rail company.
The CFF posts latest train service interruptions or slowdowns: check regularly for updates on Switzerland-France traffic.
The SNCF site appears to be more optimistic about the number of trains running: check the train where you hold a reservation if you’re scheduled to travel today.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Travelers to or through the UK will need to check for last minute changes Friday, as the two-week school spring holidays begin, with British Air workers scheduling a four-day strike that starts Friday night. British railway workers are also planning a strike after the weekend. BA said Friday morning that it is able to add more flights because of the larger number of crew not joining the strike, which Unite, the union disputes.
Updates: BA Swiss page, BA strike news, British National Rail strike news
Greek airspace and airports as well as ferries are closed Thursday 11 March, with Greek workers from the country’s two largest unions calling a third general strike in the past month, the second in just a week. The unions are fighting the country’s austerity measures, designed to cut the public debt, which is four times higher than that allowed by the European Union.
A massive 24-hour strike has virtually immobilized Greece, according to scores of reports. The general strike, the second in two weeks, has closed all public transport and Greek airspace is closed. Tourist areas, including the country’s wealth of archeological sites, are closed. Hundreds of thousands of Greeks are striking over government belt-tightening measures but much of the anger is directed at the rest of the European Union for its reaction to Greece’s economic woes.
Links to other sites: BBC, Business Week
Update 07:00 Zurich, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – A strike by Lufthansa pilots was called off at midnight Monday 22 February, the pilots’ union and Lufthansa announced. Talks will resume with no preconditions and the striking unions have committed themselves to avoiding industrial action before 8 March, in an agreement with the German labour court in Frankfurt.
The strike of 4,000 pilots was expected to cause major disruption, but appears to have had a relatively minot impact: Zurich and Geneva airports reported they were fairly calm, despite 27 canceled flights Monday out of a total of 87.
The airline Swiss announced late Monday evening thatwhile its flights are not affected directly by the strike, codeshare flights are and the company will continue to keep a close eye on the situation. The Swiss-based airline, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa group,
A general strike in Greece 24 February will affect some Swiss flights, the company notes.
Links to other sites: NZZ (Ger), ats/Romandie
Update 19:04 Ireland’s air traffic controllers are taking industrial action Wednesday 20 January, which will result in about 100 flights being cancelled in and out of Cork, Shannon and Dublin airports. Their union is backing 14controllers who were fired suspended Tuesday for refusing to cooperate with their employer, the Irish Aviation Authority, over using new technology, according to the Irish Times.
Paris airports cancelled about 15 percent of their flights 13-15 January, reports the Canadian Press news agency, when French air traffic controllers went on strike over pay and the possibility their civil servant status will change.
French Alps, view leaving Geneva airport
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The UK-based travel company Thomson, has issued the following statement for passengers who lost their luggage when a small group of baggage handlers went on strike in Geneva 2 January. Thousands of bags were misplaced 2-3 January and many are still being returned, to Thomson customers but also those of some airlines.
“Customers returning from Geneva Airport (GVA) Saturday 2 January 2010
We regret that due to an unofficial handling strike by ramp agents at Geneva Airport (GVA) on Saturday 2 January 2010, ski baggage was not returned to the UK.
Update 12:30, 11 January 2010
We can confirm that all bags from the 2nd of January 2010 have been returned back to the UK from Geneva for onward processing by our Baggage Handling Teams. The remaining bags are currently being matched and tagged for onward delivery.
Taxis, Geneva Airport
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Several taxi drivers in Geneva are not working Monday morning 11 January in protest against a proposed change to the law, reports the Tribune de Genève, but not all companies have gone along with the strike. There are currently two proposals, and the group Mouvement citoyens genevois is preparing a third, according to the Geneva newspaper. One of the main issues is the current distinction between public taxis and private ones, with only the first group allowed to use taxi lanes and to benefit from other privileges. Taxis from France and from other Swiss cantons are also not accorded the same privileges as the public taxis.
Public debates in the past over the public/private taxis distinction have centred around complaints that there is too little competition and high prices.
Background, GenevaLunch
Geneva airport, vacation week
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - A very small number of Geneva airport’s Swissport baggage handlers remain on strike after lengthy negotiations with cantonal officials failed to bring about a settlement by 8 January. Airline passengers took little interest in the striket, faced with their own concerns about lost bags and missed flights: bags misplaced a week ago have still not all been found and UK weather forced scores of flights to be canceled.
GenevaLunch has been flooded with e-mails and comments on our articles about the chaos at the airport 2-3 January, which resulted in thousands of bags going missing for most of the week.
For those who have still not received their bags, or who were bumped from canceled flights to the UK, due to weather, this week, Swiss law provides the same compensation as European Union law. Details are available in German, French and Italian, the national languages, on a federal government site. Key points include:
Geneva airport
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – A small group of Swissport employees, backed by the public sector employees’ union SSP, will continue to strike at Geneva’s Cointrin airport Tuesday, after negotiations broke down Monday afternoon, 4 January. The group is estimated to be 50 by the union, about a dozen by the airport and Swissport, which handles baggage at Cointrin. The strike is not currently disrupting flights.
Swissport employees from Zurich were sent to Geneva to help with the bags Saturday, and Geneva cantonal police and firefighters as well as customs police worked to keep the system moving Saturday and Sunday.
A larger group of about 160 employees from Swissport and Dnana went on strike Saturday 2 January, one of the busiest passenger days of the year for the airport. Most were back at work Monday. Swissport has several thousand employees in Switzerland.
Airport spokesperson Bernard Staempfli told GenevaLunch Monday morning that thousands of bags had not been delivered, but they would be leaving Geneva during the day Monday. He apologized for the confusion and inconvenience to passengers, while noting that the strike was carried out by employees of a private company which operates at the airport and that the airport is not directly involved in the collective contract negotiations.
Passengers, particularly in the UK, were complaining Monday evening that they were still unable to get any information about their missing bags.
Link to ats/TSR (Fre)
Background, GenevaLunch
Quieter times at Geneva airport's baggage area
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Passengers who lost their luggage in the chaos at the airport this weekend, 2-3 January, should have it today, Monday, or at the latest within 36 hours, says Cointrin Airport spokesperson Bertrand Staempfli. He told GenevaLunch “We’re really sorry for the confusion and the lack of information for some of the time, but we were caught by surprise by the strike.”
Cointrin Airport, Geneva
Update 4 January 09:15 Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Baggage handlers at Geneva’s Cointrin Airport will continue Monday the strike they began 2 January, but fewer than 50 employees are expected to be striking and their absence is being covered by crews sent in from Zurich, according to the Tribune de Geneve. Swissport baggage handlers will continue their strike Monday, but Dnata employees who joined them 2 January agreed to go back to work Sunday, after receiving pay increases.
The airport was hectic over the weekend, and while local media said the strike appeared to have a minimal impact, travellers are reporting that the chaos included lost luggage. Vivian, moving to Geneva with her family (see comment below), says “The place was mass confusion. People were sitting on the floors. The place was packed with people. I’m pretty sure they broke fire codes with the number of people in that place. My children slept on the bare floor as we searched for the luggage.” The family had a bag stolen and some luggage, including a bag with the children’s favourite toys, is still missing.
The two companies are members of the SSP and SIP unions. They have been striking for better work and pay conditions: while Swissport employees have had a collective contract with the airport Dnata employees have not, which the two group say creates unfair competition.
Links to other sites: GVA airport, Tribune de Geneve
