Swissport: unions say negotiations have failed

Negotiations for the renewal of the collective labour agreement for Swissport's ground staff in Zurich have failed. That is what unions say, and they have not ruled out going on strike if their demands are not heard.

The contract covers around 2,000 employees and expires at the end of the year. It was last renewed in 2022, in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. At the time, according to the unions, staff had to accept numerous concessions.

Pay rises of up to 7 percent

Unions are now asking for better working conditions and pay rises of up to 7 percent. The demand comes after years in which staff agreed to give up some of their protections to support the company during the pandemic.

Unions say they remain open to resuming talks with the company. At the same time, they have not ruled out taking action: a strike could be called as early as January 2027 if negotiations do not resume on different terms. It would not be the first time Swissport staff have mobilised: protest actions already took place four years ago.

The dispute concerns ground staff, who ensure the operations needed for airports to function. A strike would therefore have a direct impact on passengers and on the airlines that rely on Swissport for their handling. These are workers whose contract conditions receive less attention than those of flight crews, even though their role remains central to keeping flights on time.

It remains to be seen whether the company will be willing to revise its position before the contract expires at the end of the year, and how much room is left to avoid a new standoff after the one already experienced during the pandemic. The case also raises the question of how much weight, in the negotiation, will be given to the demands of those who have already accepted sacrifices in the past, compared with the needs of the company.