LMV Negotiation Round 9: Union Obstruction Continues to Prevent a Viable Contract Model

Generous Wage Package Remains Blocked

The builders showed themselves once again ready in the ninth LMV negotiation round on Tuesday for the establishment of an on-site bonus over the next six years. The on-site bonus should be gradually built up to a total of 9 francs per day by 2029. This corresponds to a wage increase of approximately 4 percent. Furthermore, the builders offer to hedge the inflation risk over this period. In underground construction, significant bonus increases are also planned, which would lead to substantial wage increases of over 10 percent in this sector. Nevertheless, the unions insist on additional demands. This stance is currently blocking the entire wage package and continues to delay the conclusion that is actually within reach. This, despite the builders having indicated they are willing to accommodate the unions on issues heavily criticized by them, such as changes to Saturday work, wage reductions for entry-level workers, or the dismissal protection for older employees.

Commitment to Maintaining Purchasing Power

Since 2019, wages in the main construction industry have increased by 7.5 percent and thus more than inflation. With around 5000 francs for auxiliary workers and 6000 francs for specialists, the minimum wages in the main construction industry are among the highest commercial minimum wages in all of Europe. The builders are further ready to secure inflation both on minimum and effective wages with shared risk.

The builders also commit to maintaining purchasing power on effective wages and are prepared to embed this principle firmly in the preamble of the LMV. However, with effective wages, entrepreneurial freedoms are consciously needed. Only in this way can companies honor individual performances, selectively retain long-standing employees, and strengthen their attractiveness in the competition for skilled workers. The SBV also recalls the securing of flexible retirement FAR: The builders already increased their contribution to 6 percent last year, thus ensuring long-term financing.

Progress in Work and Travel Time

The negotiated contract package contains solutions for the travel time regulation in combination with the more and less hours account, which should in the future have clearly defined upper and lower limits. This should be supplemented by an individual long-term account, through which overtime can be accrued for personal projects over a longer period, which would equal a step towards better work-life balance. In these points, a further approach was made on Tuesday, so that a proposal is actually ready to be presented to the respective decision-making bodies.

Petition Against a State Without Contract

Currently, it is primarily ideologically driven additional inflation demands from the unions that prevent the conclusion of the contract and the triggering of the extensive wage package. The unions simultaneously threaten with a state without contract, which carries high risks: illegal work, wage dumping, and precarious working conditions. All the more, the unions should have an interest in bringing the negotiations to a successful conclusion rather than blocking them with maximal demands.

Therefore, the SBV has launched the online petition "No to Illegal Work, Wage Dumping, and Precarious Working Conditions in Construction!" It demands clear rules until the conclusion of the new LMV and warns emphatically against a state without contract.

The next negotiation round is scheduled for 12 December 2025.

More Information:

Press Contact:

Jacqueline Theiler, Head of Communication SBV

Tel. 058 360 76 42, jacqueline.theiler@baumeister.ch

Matthias Engel, Media Spokesman SBV

Tel. 058 360 76 35, matthias.engel@baumeister.ch

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