The Swiss Metalworkers' and Watchmakers' Union (, SMUV; ) was a

trade union A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...

representing workers in the metal and watchmaking industries in Switzerland. The union was founded in 1915, when the Swiss Metalworkers' Union merged with the Federation of Watch Industry Workers, which was in debt, following an unsuccessful strike. It affiliated to the

Swiss Trade Union Federation The Swiss Trade Union Federation (, SGB; ; , USS) is the largest national trade union center in Switzerland. History The federation was founded in 1880. The SGB has close ties with the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland (SPS). Ruth Dreifuss ...

. The union grew rapidly during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, membership peaking at 85,000 in 1919, but then falling to just 43,000 in 1925. This was a difficult period for the union, which lost its

collective agreement A collective agreement, collective labour agreement (CLA) or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is a written contract negotiated through collective bargaining for employees by one or more trade unions with the management of a company (or with a ...

s, renounced strikes, and expelled its communist members, but was able to expand unemployment insurance. Under the long-term leadership of Konrad Ilg, the union began growing again, rapidly after

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Membership reached a new peak of 145,000 in 1972, then fell again. In 1992, it absorbed the

Swiss Clothing, Leather and Equipment Workers' Union The Swiss Clothing, Leather and Equipment Workers' Union (, VBLA; ) was a trade union representing workers in the clothing and leather industries. The Clothing and Leather Workers' Union was expelled from the Swiss Trade Union Federation The Swi ...

, renaming itself as the Union for Industry, Trade and Services, while retaining the SMUV abbreviation. By 1998, the union had 95,315 members, of whom 91% worked in the metal industry, and the remainder across a variety of sectors. In 2004, it merged with the

Union of Commerce, Transport and Food The Union of Commerce, Transport and Food (, VHTL; ) was a trade union representing workers in various industries, particularly food processing, retail, hospitality and goods transport. The union was founded in 1915, when the Union of Food and Beve ...

and the

Union of Construction and Industry The Union of Construction and Industry (, GBI; ) was a trade union representing workers in various industries in Switzerland. The union was founded on 1 January 1993, when the Union of Construction and Wood merged with the Union of Textiles, Chemic ...

, to form

Unia ''Unia'' (), released on 25 May 2007, is the fifth full-length studio album by the power metal band Sonata Arctica, following the album '' Reckoning Night''. The first single from the album was " Paid in Full", released on 27 April 2007. This is ...

Presidents

:1915: Oskar Schneeberger :1917: Konrad Ilg :1954: Arthur Steiner :1958: Ernst Wüthrich :1972: Hans Mischler :1976: Gilbert Tschumi :1980: Fritz Reimann :1988: Agostino Tarabusi :1992:

Christiane Brunner Christiane Brunner (23 March 1947 – 18 April 2025) was a Swiss politician and lawyer. Career Brunner occupied several government positions. She was Deputy of the Great Council of the Canton of Geneva from 1981 to 1990 and a member of the ...

:2000: Renzo Ambrosetti

References

{{Authority control Metal trade unions Trade unions established in 1915 Trade unions disestablished in 2004 Trade unions in Switzerland