May 1st Trade unions call for solidarity on Labor Day
Trade unions have called for demonstrations throughout Switzerland on May 1st. Under the motto "Solidarity instead of hate, unity is strength", they want to mobilize the working population against right-wing extremist circles.
28.04.2025, 09:01
SDA
The social and trade union movement faces the challenge of asserting itself against the alliance of right-wing extremists, large corporations and the neoliberal elite. Cohesion and a commitment to social progress, fairly distributed prosperity, justice and equality are the strongest weapons against this, according to the call from the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB) in the run-up to Labor Day.
"Right-wing extremists around the world are working hand in hand with billionaires, libertarians and fundamentalist circles against the working population," said the SGB. A counter-revolution of big business against the social progress of recent decades is underway. Gender equality and other hard-won rights are being attacked head-on as a result, the umbrella organization continued.
The purchasing power of working people is falling, while shareholders and entrepreneurs are getting richer. In Switzerland, too, large sections of the economic elite are increasingly relying on nationalism and xenophobia. Under the pretext of a shortage of skilled workers, employers are demanding longer working hours and an increase in the retirement age. However, no solutions are being offered to concrete problems such as the loss of purchasing power and rising rents.
Neoliberal elite "pouring oil on the fire"
The right is increasingly dictating the political agenda, including with the "dangerous" SVP initiative against a "Switzerland of 10 million", which will be presented to parliament in the spring. According to the SGB, the isolationist initiative calls for an even more restrictive asylum policy and leads to the end of the free movement of persons and wage protection. The neoliberal elite is doing nothing to counter this threatening development. "Instead, it is prevaricating and adding fuel to the fire of agitation," says the SGB.
Trade union leader Pierre-Yves Maillard will be among those appearing in St. Gallen on May 1. Unia President Vania Alleva will give a speech in Zurich. As usual, the SP Federal Councillors will also take part in the Labor Day: Beat Jans will be present in Olten SO and Elisabeth Baume-Schneider in Fribourg.
