Campaign to polish up the image of civil servants
The Federal Employees' Association (PVB) wants to dispel the misconception that federal civil servants have it easy at work and is launching a campaign to that end.
In view of the next budget debate in parliament in the fall, it is warning against cutting staff costs. To this end, the PVB launched the "Love Service public" campaign on Thursday, which is visually based on the Federal Office of Public Health's "Love Life" campaign. With flyers and information material, it aims to make the population aware of the great benefits of public services in Switzerland.
"Many people do not know how they benefit from the work of federal employees," said National Councillor Maria Bernasconi (SP/GE), Secretary General of the PVB, to the media in Bern. It was time to inform the public about this. People are behind the public service. Federal employees have come under increasing pressure in recent years, said Bernasconi. Administrative work was increasingly being outsourced or privatized. "That is dangerous." According to Bernasconi, there are various reasons why the number of federal employees continues to rise. The world has become more complex and the population's need for security is growing. "If parliament places ever higher demands on the administration, it cannot simultaneously reduce personnel costs."
Convincing parliament of the public service
On Wednesday, the National Council scaled back the austerity package for federal finances. Among other things, it said no to cuts in federal personnel. Nevertheless, the PVB is dissatisfied: The austerity measures would jeopardize the continued high quality of public services. And the next parliamentary budget debate will take place in the fall. "It is important to convince the political decision-makers of our concerns," said Bernasconi. That is why the PVB gave all parliamentarians a paper bag with information to take home with them at the end of the special session. It contains material from the "LOVE public service" campaign.
The campaign costs CHF 30,000 and will run until the end of the year. According to the PVB, it will be financed exclusively by the association's membership fees. "We will distribute flyers in train stations and perhaps put up posters," said Bernasconi. The PVB says it represents the interests of more than 10,000 federal employees. (SDA)
