Swiss pilots' union wants to terminate collective bargaining agreement

The pilots' union Aeropers intends to terminate its collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with Swiss. However, it does not want this step to be seen as a sign of a dispute with Lufthansa's Swiss subsidiary. It is highly likely that the CBA will be terminated at the end of 2025, Aeropers spokesman Thomas Steffen told the Keystone-SDA news agency today. In that case, the contract would still remain in effect until the end of 2026. The news was published today by the "NZZ am Sonntag," which cites pilots' difficulties balancing work and private life as the reason for the move.

Collective bargaining agreements are typically negotiated for an indefinite period, but with a minimum term of at least four years, Steffen explained. Until now, it's always been the case that the union or Swiss company has terminated the agreement at the earliest possible date, hoping for improvements: "Termination is therefore a normal step and not a sign of dispute."

According to Aeropers, the voting process that would precede a termination has not yet begun. However, the union has conducted a survey among its members, which shows that the majority currently favors terminating the collective bargaining agreement. Swiss is also aware of the survey results.

Aeropers spokesperson Steffen believes a renegotiation without prior termination of the collective bargaining agreement is highly unlikely: "Our experience with the current CLA regarding the implementation of improvements for employees during an ongoing agreement is very negative."