Syndicom fights against "Pro Service public" initiative
The Syndicom union is opposing the «Pro Service public» initiative. On Saturday in Bern, the approximately 200 delegates voted to campaign against it. They also criticize Swiss Post’s outsourcing policy.
Like parliament, the media and communications industry union is recommending that voters reject the "Pro Service Public" popular initiative, according to a communiqué issued on Saturday. The initiative is expected to be put to a vote next summer. Despite the seductive title of the popular initiative, the Syndicom delegates agreed that the initiative would hinder the further development and modernization of the public service and would have fatal consequences, especially in peripheral regions. The initiative demands that companies close to the federal government, such as Swiss Post, Swisscom and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), should not strive for profits in the provision of basic services and should refrain from cross-subsidization. In addition, employees' salaries should not be higher than those of the federal administration.
The consumer magazines K-Tipp, Saldo, Bon à Savoir and Spendere Meglio are behind the initiative. The declared aim of the initiators is to ensure that Swiss Post, Swisscom or SBB offer the population first and foremost a good and affordable service. The syndicom delegates also criticized the outsourcing of mail transport. They passed a resolution. They said Swiss Post could afford to continue transporting its parcels, newspapers and letters itself. It was making millions in profits and the transport of postal items was not running at a loss. (SDA)
