Swiss air navigation service provider Skyguide has officially concluded the legally mandated consultation process as part of its announced restructuring program. The Geneva-based company stated that after an intensive 30-day period, no further submissions can be made.
During this period, the workforce, the relevant trade unions such as Helvetia Control, and the internal staff representatives had the opportunity to develop detailed counter-proposals and alternative measures to minimize or completely prevent redundancies as part of the savings program.
The management of Skyguide, responsible for monitoring Swiss airspace and adjacent areas in neighboring countries, has now begun a detailed economic and legal review of the submitted proposals. The financial situation of the partially privatized federal company has been severely strained for some time due to changing traffic patterns in European airspace and increased operating costs. A massive drop in revenue from air navigation service charges is forcing the company to fundamentally review its cost structure, which ultimately led to the current plans for staff reductions.
During the proceedings, the unions primarily demanded socially responsible solutions, such as avoiding layoffs by expanding early retirement schemes, reducing overtime, and increasing the use of part-time work. The extent to which these proposals from the employee organizations are compatible with management's strategic and financial restructuring goals remains the subject of ongoing evaluation. Air traffic control emphasized that the final decision regarding the extent of job cuts and the specific measures will only be announced after the complete conclusion of this review phase, in order to avoid jeopardizing operations in the highly sensitive area of air traffic control.