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Tighter funds and different political views: The largest trade association takes three big outings in stride.
The largest business umbrella association will lose three members by the end of the year. Avenergy, the former Auto-Schweiz oil association, the automobile importers association and the Swiss Retail retail association informed Economiesuisse in the early summer that they wanted to leave in 2021.
In principle, joining and leaving associations is nothing unusual. In terms of numbers, the three Economiesuisse resignations are also irrelevant. Economiesuisse has 20 chambers of commerce and 100 member associations, employing two million people.
Economiesuisse has 20 chambers of commerce and 100 member associations, representing the interests of two million employees
Conflicts of interest
But the withdrawals of the three industry associations are also a sign. It shows that it is not easier for Economiesuisse to reconcile the interests of its members, some of whom are widely separated.
There is, for example, Auto-Schweiz, the association of about 30 importers of cars and trucks. Membership in Economiesuisse has been the subject of debate for a long time, and there has also been an exchange with Economiesuisse, says Director Andreas Burgener: “We no longer feel as supported as perhaps the financial and pharmaceutical industry, which Economiesuisse will surely represent excellently. “.
We no longer feel as supported as perhaps the financial and pharmaceutical industries.
Miraculous point: climate policy
Burgener admits that the immediate trigger for the exit is climate policy. Economiesuisse advocates a C02 tax on gasoline and diesel. Car importers couldn’t support that, Burgener says.
In the case of the Avenergy oil association, the discussion about the CO2 law was not the reason for the exit, but he was of the opinion that the trade association could represent the interests of the mineral oil industry better than Economiesuisse, Avenergy wrote on request.
Put funds elsewhere
Burgener of Auto-Schweiz also praises the trade association: “We believe that we are in better hands in trade than in Economiesuisse.” However, money also plays a role in the exit: the corona pandemic with the lockdown is affecting the auto industry.
Andreas Burgener, Director of Auto Switzerland: “Economiesuisse is a very important element in our budget.”
Keystone
By the end of the year, Auto-Schweiz expects 20 percent fewer new car registrations. That hurts importers massively financially, Burgener says: “Ultimately, we have to see where we spend what money. The economic situation is a bit more difficult now and we are struggling there. Economiesuisse is a very relevant element in our budget. ”Burgener does not mean how relevant.
The economic situation is a bit more difficult now and we are struggling there.
Economiesuisse continues to trust
Swiss Retail, which represents Lidl, Aldi, Ikea and other small retailers, but not Migros and Coop, also talks about cost savings: in the future, they want to use scarce funds more directly for their own interests.
At Economiesuisse you are calm. There are always tensions at Economiesuisse. Individual members of Economiesuisse like to clash, especially when it comes to voting. Associations also regularly threaten to leave, even if they stay.
For Economiesuisse things will only get precarious when other associations start to question the benefits and costs of being a member of Economiesuisse and there could be a huge exodus. There are currently no signs of this.
