Vaud unions and State Council clash over budget cuts

Public sector unions in the canton of Vaud are escalating their dispute with the State Council regarding proposed budget cuts. Following a meeting on Wednesday, the Fédération des Sociétés de fonctionnaires et des associations du parapublic vaudois (FSF), the Syndicat des services publics (SSP), and the Fédération syndicale SUD announced they will refer the matter to a conciliation body.

The conflict centers on 100 million francs in planned savings following the acceptance of the ‘12%’ initiative. The unions are demanding that the government utilize financial reserves to compensate for declining tax revenues instead of reducing services or cutting budgets. They have called for a demonstration in Lausanne on November 5.

The State Council maintains its position on the cuts and is expected to announce a decision regarding salary indexation next week. The government stated that the measures, which combine savings with additional revenue, are necessary to address the decrease in cantonal tax receipts without delaying the budget calendar.