Hygiene on construction sites: Unia wants to defend craftsmen

“Insalubrity: these changing rooms despair us!” Known on the door of mobile toilets at the entrance of a site in a Glâne village. Moreover, Unia’s message is clear. Moreover, Several union representatives came Wednesday morning to denounce violations of working conditions, as they are set in law.

This major project, where four residential buildings are being built, occupies about fifty craftsmen, according to the union. Additionally, Moreover, During a previous visit. Therefore, UNIA representatives had already noted breaches, with regard to the toilets, the places of life and the transport of heavy loads.

Lack of access to toilets. Meanwhile, running water – Hygiene construction sites: unia wants

On the ground floor of one of the buildings, several workers take a break from improvised furniture: a board placed on two wooden pallets and polystyrene blocks as a seats. Consequently, No sink on the horizon. Furthermore, Attacked men eat their sandwiches, hands still full of hygiene construction sites: unia wants dust.

“There are very specific rules”, storm Ivo Léo, secretary for crafts at Unia Friborg. “There must be containers with toilets connected to running water. pause premises and changing rooms with lockers so that they can climb their personal objects.” It shows an adjacent room, used as a cloakroom. Again, no furniture to store clothes or business. “I note that it is not targeted,” added the union secretary before the workers gathered. “Today, the vast majority of sites are in this state.”

The craftsmen are not insensitive to the discourse of the trade unionists, but avoid putting themselves forward. Furthermore, “The first to talk about these problems to his letter of leave in hygiene construction sites: unia wants the hand the next day. ” said one of them. A fear that the unions are aware. “This may notably be migrant people. who prefer to be silent to avoid losing their license or be forced to leave for foreigners”, Yannick Ferrari, member of the Regional Directorate of Unia Friborg.

A campaign throughout Switzerland

These problems are less common in the structural work, generally covered by larger companies. But in crafts. such as plastering, painting or roofs, teams are more reduced and installing a whole device is expensive for businesses. “We can understand that they do not want to put it all in place for a few days. ” concedes Yannick Ferrari. Moreover, “There must be discussions upstream of the site between the work department. the client and the companies to know how to coordinate and how to distribute the financial burden.”

To challenge the authorities, the organization launches a survey of hygiene construction sites: unia wants craftsmen across the country. More than 300 people have already participated in the canton of Friborg to share their working conditions. Ultimately, unions hope that the cantonal authorities will invest more means to carry out controls on the ground.