Viscom: Longer working hours and no fixed minimum wages

According to Viscom, the negotiations for a new Gav in the graphic arts industry, which begin on September 20, 2012, must lead to a strengthening of the individual companies' room for maneuver and their own responsibility. The employers' association of the graphic arts industry is calling for a future-oriented adjustment of the overly costly collective labor agreement. According to Viscom, added value cannot be distributed in advance and a start of the cost spiral would trigger catastrophic employment consequences in the industry. The principle of annual wage adjustments at company level, which has been established in the industry for eight years, is working, he said. The companies are aware of their responsibility towards their employees.

According to Viscom, the new CBA must strengthen the companies' room for maneuver, especially since their financial and earnings power varies greatly from company to company. A detailed fixing of minimum wages should be dispensed with. Viscom is against a general increase in minimum wages of 200 francs per month, as demanded by the unions.

New 42-hour week

Viscom is also calling for a move away from the 40-hour week and an increase to 42 hours. The 40-hour week threatens growth and employment in the graphic arts industry. The benchmarks for annual working hours fixed during the last CLA negotiations are proving to be too rigid and must be broken up in line with other industries. Annual working hours must be made more flexible, as in other sectors.
 
According to Viscom, the compensation for night and shift work of 70 percent is also unsustainable in a national industry comparison and international benchmark. In the interests of Switzerland as a workplace, Viscom is therefore calling for surcharges of 25 percent for night and shift work.