mer, Oct 18th 2023
The electorate has the final say in the dispute over planned pension cuts for cantonal employees. This was decided by the Ticino Grand Council on Tuesday.
Accordingly, the sovereign will decide on a proposed increase in contributions by the government.
According to the government’s proposal, the increase in the retirement capital is to be financed both by the employer – i.e. the canton – and by the employees.
The pension level is to be maintained for those with at least 40 years of employment. For employees with a short period of employment, the pension reduction will be limited to a maximum of two percent.
The Ticino Grand Council gave the proposal the green light on Tuesday, but at the same time voted for a decision in the ballot box as part of the indirect compulsory financial referendum. This means that the people of Ticino have the last word on compensation measures for the pensions of cantonal employees.
The planned pension reduction is to come into force in 2024 and would affect around 17,000 insured persons at the cantonal pension fund. It is feared that pensions will be cut by up to 40 per cent.
The announced pension cut had mobilised Ticino cantonal employees several times in the past. At the start of the cantonal council session, opponents of the pension cut took to the streets in Bellinzona on Monday for the umpteenth time; last May, around 600 teachers took part in a strike.
©Keystone/SDA
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