A campaign by Swiss public service union VPOD/ SSP helped to convince Swiss voters to throw out moves to ease corporate taxation, in a referendum on 12 February. Almost 60% rejected reforms that would have cut resources for vital public services.
The proposed tax change would have meant an estimated loss to public funds of up to 3 billion francs a year, threatening services like education, health, police and childcare, together with the jobs of trained and qualified staff. "Today's victory is an expression of dissatisfaction, which we have long felt at the grassroots level," said VPOD General Secretary Stefan Giger. "The population does not want larger school classes, reductions in fire brigades, administration or loss of quality in the health sector."