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The trade association prioritizes the interests of companies active globally in the pharmaceutical and financial industries. Dissatisfied SME associations are moving further and further away.
Economiesuisse Director Monika Rühl must accept the departure of three SME industry associations.
A few weeks ago, Hans-Ulrich Bigler, director of the Swiss Trade Association (SGV), and Economiesuisse director Monika Rühl had a wild dispute over the group’s liability initiative. It turns out that the dispute was about more than personal animosities between the top officials of the two associations. In contrast, parts of the country-oriented SME economy are moving away from the umbrella business organization because they are no longer represented by it. With Auto Schweiz, Swiss Retail and Avenergy, the former oil association, no fewer than three SME associations have ceased to be members of Economiesuisse in recent weeks and months, as NZZ research has shown.
All three associations are influential players in the organized economy: Auto Schweiz represents the interests of car importers with a total of 4,000 brand dealers, including Amag. Swiss Retail groups together the interests of Swiss retailers with the exception of Migros and Coop. The companies, including large chains such as Aldi, Lidl, Manor and Ikea, reach an annual turnover of 19,000 million francs and offer a total of 46,000 jobs. Finally, Avenergy defends the interests of importers and suppliers in the field of fossil fuels, including service station operators.
Pharmaceutical and financial industries preferred
The three associations end their cooperation with Economiesuisse because they do not see the umbrella association as an advocate for their own concerns. “We have found that the interests of private motorized transport are not as high a priority as those of the pharmaceutical and financial industries,” says Andreas Burgener, director of Auto Schweiz. That is why the consequences were drawn. The decision to leave was approved by the members.
At Auto Schweiz, membership in Economiesuisse had long been controversial. The barrel overflowed the debate on COtwo-Legislation. Economiesuisse wants to hold motorized transport responsible and campaigns for a COtwo-The right to gasoline and diesel is introduced, as it already exists for fuels such as diesel and gas for heating. For car dealerships, the umbrella association crosses a red line. “We feel that Economiesuisse no longer represented us in this central presentation,” said Burgener, director of the association.
The turbulence in the markets caused by the Corona crisis favored the exit. Auto Schweiz expects car sales to decline by at least 20 percent this year. “In this difficult situation we are forced to review the books financially.” Membership in Economiesuisse is a “relevant cost item” for the association. Auto Schweiz remains a member of the Swiss Trade Association.
Meanwhile, Swiss Retail Director Dagmar Jenni emphasizes that in future financial resources will be used to represent retail interests vis-à-vis politicians more directly, especially when it comes to the crown-related lockdown. Jenni does not provide further information on the departure. In the past, Swiss Retail campaigned for longer store openings, containment of shopping tourism, and unequal tax treatment of domestic and international consumption. They are demands that play a subordinate role for Economiesuisse.
The retailers association had also spoken out in favor of a stricter counterproposal to the corporate responsibility initiative, which would have led to the withdrawal of the referendum. Economiesuisse, on the other hand, did its best to avoid stricter liability rules for companies. In the parliamentary debate, Economiesuisse finally prevailed. Swiss Retail has now decided not to join the economic committee of Economiesuisse, which is fighting the corporate responsibility initiative. This, although the association is against the referendum.
The departures come at an inopportune moment for Economiesuisse. Following the vote on the limitation initiative on September 27, the voting campaign for the important corporate responsibility initiative begins, which will be presented to the people at the end of November. It is the first practical test for the new president Christoph Mäder. The fact that parts of the SME economy are now turning their backs on their association does not facilitate the task of closing the ranks of the economy in the electoral battle.
When asked, Economiesuisse spokesman Michael Wiesner emphasized that they greatly regret the withdrawal of the associations. They are always welcome if they want to rejoin the umbrella organization for business.
Switch to trade association
Economiesuisse should be even more upset that Avenergy, one of the renegade associations, is switching to the Swiss Trade Association. One is of the opinion, as a member of the trade association, to better represent the interests of member companies in politics, Avenergy spokesman Daniel Schindler says upon request. In recent years it has been shown that the interests of Economiesuisse member associations sometimes strongly contradict each other. The concerns of the oil industry at Economiesuisse have always had little response. “The exit has nothing to do with the change at the top of Economiesuisse,” Schindler said.
Meanwhile, departures and transfers go to SGV director Hans-Ulrich Bigler’s mill. The former National Council of the FDP has been shooting poison arrows at Economiesuisse for weeks and accuses it of often demanding stricter regulations at the expense of small businesses. Now Bigler is confirmed by the starts and transfers. “Each association evaluates the costs and benefits of being a member of an umbrella organization.” Ultimately, the market decides based on the quality of the service.
