The president of the large union, UNIA, Vania Alleva is calling for Swiss companies to be prioritized in public procurement in response to Donald Trump’s new customs duties.
In an interview with the newspaper, SonntagsBlick, she says if other countries protect their industries, Switzerland must do the same.
Public contracts, which represent almost 10% of GDP, should systematically favor local firms, with social, ecological and strategic criteria weighed more heavily than price.
Alleva points to existing rules in the arms sector, where 60% of orders must stay in Switzerland.
The union leader also reiterated her demand for a 2 to 2.5 percent wage increase, rejecting calls for a wage freeze.
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