Swiss Construction Workers Vote to Strike Over Work Hours Dispute

Strike Vote Confirmed Amidst Stalled Negotiations

More than 20,000 Swiss construction workers have voted in favor of strike action, unions Unia and Syna announced on Thursday, October 16, 2025. This decision follows a breakdown in negotiations with the Swiss Contractors' Association (SSE) over a new National Collective Agreement (Gesamtarbeitsvertrag, GAV) for the main construction sector. The current agreement, which governs the working conditions for approximately 80,000 workers across Switzerland, is set to expire at the end of 2025.

The unions reported that nearly 90 percent of surveyed construction workers supported the call for a strike if employers continue to reject demands for more family-friendly working hours and improved conditions. The first days of protest are anticipated to begin as early as October 20, 2025, with further demonstrations planned for November 3 and 4, and additional protest days on November 7 in north-western Switzerland and November 14 in Zurich and other German-speaking regions.

Core Demands and Points of Contention

The dispute centers on several key issues regarding working conditions and compensation. Workers, through their unions, are demanding:

• An end to unpaid travel time to construction sites.
• A paid morning break.
• Shorter working days, ideally limited to eight hours.
• Reduced Saturday work.
• Improved overall compensation and wage increases.

Conversely, unions have criticized the SSE for proposals that they argue would significantly worsen working conditions. These include pushing to extend the working week to 50 hours, making on-call shifts standard practice, reducing holiday entitlement for workers over 55 years of age, and potentially reducing real wages. Unia chief negotiator Nico Lutz stated that 'Construction workers are at the end of their tether,' highlighting concerns over long daily hours and unpaid overtime.

Negotiations Reach an Impasse

Despite several rounds of negotiations, no agreement has been reached. The fourth of five agreed negotiation rounds took place earlier this week, with the final scheduled round set for October 28, 2025. Unions have indicated that the Master Builders' Association has rejected their proposals for additional negotiation dates. If an agreement is not finalized by the end of the year, the Swiss construction industry could face a period without a collective bargaining agreement for the first time in over a decade, potentially leading to widespread labor unrest.