We are 130 on the construction site, there is no soap in the toilets, there are suspicions of illness among the workers, we just want to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Tuesday morning, with the announcements of the previous day linked to Covid-19, the tension rose by several notches on a site of the East Wing of the Geneva airport. Thirty workers contested the continuation of the work in such circumstances and under such conditions, as one of them reports.
Around 8:30 am, the clash was such that, at the request of the employees and their superiors, the cantonal police went on the scene to restore calm. We intervened to appease a conflictual situation between workers and their managers, confirms Silvain Guillaume-Gentil, spokesman for the Geneva police force. We left once the conditions for the resumption of a dialogue were guaranteed.
They want to continue, it’s not possible
Faced with this virus, for several weeks, we have managed to try not to eat together, but the mobile toilets have never been properly equipped, we just had suspicions of quarantine and there, they want to continue the work, not possible. We are afraid of infecting loved ones. Me, it is clear, from this evening, I will not go there any more, explains this worker.
The general contractor in charge of the works on the site indicates to respect the federal ordinance: The building sites can continue normally like said it the Federal Council Monday, declares the external spokesperson of HRS. Of course, we respect the instructions of the FOPH and take this seriously. We also continue to disseminate information on this subject on construction sites. As for the hygiene conditions announced, the company specifies that it will inquire and take the necessary measures if necessary.
Closure of construction sites required
The Unia union indicates that it has been approached by many employees from different branches, including construction, worried: Several workers have witnessed dramatic situations in the remaining open workplaces, first of all on many construction sites and sanitary facilities and the dining rooms were not designed to limit the spread of the virus. The branch unions have asked the employers’ associations to request the Canton to close the construction sites immediately.
During a briefing on the Covid-19 Tuesday afternoon, the Geneva State Councilor Mauro Poggia, in charge of the Department of Security, Employment and Health said that, concerning the construction sites, the Council of State would rule during its meeting Wednesday, because this activity was not included in the decisions announced Monday.
The stoppage of work is demanded everywhere, as online via a petition or in the canton of Vaud, where the Association Romande of the workers of the electrical installation, in particular, requires the closing of the big building sites, like that of the new Lausanne Hotel School campus.
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