During their pay negotiations, the two parties were already able to reach a consensus on the amount by which current minimum salaries will be raised. As part of the 2017 pay round, the following adjustments will come into effect on April 1, 2017:
- The salaries of all sales staff working in Switzerland will be subject to an across-the-board increase of 1%.
- All employees whose salaries do not reach the new agreed minimum levels after a general or individual salary increase has been applied will automatically have their salaries increased to the following minimum levels:
- for employees without vocational training CHF 3,700.—
- for employees with two years vocational training or
employees who have completed five years of service CHF 3,800.— - for employees with three years vocational training CHF 3,900.—
- for employees with four years vocational training CHF 4,100.—
- Other employees covered by the GEC who do not work in sales will receive individual salary increases based on structural and performance-related parameters.
The effect of the salary adjustments set out above will be to raise the aggregate pay of all employees covered by the GEC by 1.8%. Based on the evolution of pay levels to date and the good financial results it achieved in 2016, Valora agreed to grant an above-average increase in aggregate pay as a gesture of thanks to its staff for the exemplary commitment they have displayed in recent years. Valora and the Swiss Association of Commercial Employees are currently engaged in negotiating a revised version of the current GEC. Both parties are very confident that they will be able to agree on further material and formal aspects of the GEC and that they will be able to sign a new general employment contract in the next few weeks.