News

Care workers at Swiss nursing home Lindenmatte, in Erlenbach, just lost their union delegate. She was fired for organising a union and speaking up for her workmates.

What happened?

They are a group of nursing home workers who look after the elderly. They work hard and care about the people we work with, who are some of Swiss society’s most vulnerable.

Over the past year and a half these workers formed a union. They did this to help address the high staff turnover, poor working conditions, and low pay. 

They elected Kathrin as their union delegate. She helped the group work together to achieve some improvements. They got a works council formed, which meant they had a voice in their workplace to discuss issues and resolve problems.

But the company who owns the nursing home, Pro Senectute, was not happy about these workers having a union voice at work. So much so that the company just held compulsory staff meeting. They closed the doors, including emergency exits, and workers were asked by their management and local Pro Senectute board members to leave their own union!

Kathrin, their delegate, had just been elected to their works council. She was standing up for the workers to resolve labour disputes. And then the company fired her. Kathrin got fired because the company didn’t like the workers forming a union in their workplace. The workers at this nursing home have faced harassment and abuses of their right to freedom of association, and now her company thinks they can get away with firing their delegate.

This is a symbolic struggle, but it is also about Kathrin. Kathrin is a hard worker and the elderly residents love her.

What can you do to help?

Kathrin needs workers everywhere to stand behind her to show that we won’t be bullied and intimidated. The right to form a union won’t be undermined.

Kathrin deserves her job back, and this company needs to act now to reinstate her, respect the workers' union, Unia, and start negotiations to solve the problems in the nursing home.

Please send your union message of support to: adrian.durtschi@unia.ch 

This week the workers will take their fight public, and they need to know we are backing them up.

Kathrin and her workmates would appreciate messages, and photographs of support from unions, and union members expressing your solidarity with Kathrin.

SOLIDARITY WITH KATHRIN!

Let's stand up for all care workers and the elderly they care for.