Association of Swiss Engine Drivers and Candidates
The Association of Swiss Locomotive Drivers and Candidates (VSLF) is an employee organization / trade union for locomotive drivers in categories B60, B80, B100 and B (formerly Cat. C and D) in Switzerland. The VSLF is an association under the Civil Code and represents the interests of locomotive personnel regardless of politics, denomination or other professional categories (in contrast to the SEV , which is open to all public transport employees). The VSLF promotes and safeguards the interests of its members in professional, economic and social terms.
The VSLF has around 1700 active and around 100 retired members. The active members work for the Swiss Federal Railways , BLS AG , SOB AG , Thurbo AG , TILO SA , RegionAlps SA , Crossrail AG and other railways. When it comes to locomotive staff of the SBB, BLS and SOB, the VSLF is roughly the same number as the LPV, a subsidiary of the SEV.
The VSLF is a member of the Autonomous Engine Drivers Unions of Europe (ALE).
VSLF locomotive
From November 22, 2013 to April 2, 2018, the Re 460 105-0 drove through Switzerland in the VSLF advertising dress. The design was created by Stephan Gut, train driver in Zurich and Section President VSLF Eastern Switzerland. The locomotive has a black and a white front and therefore two different side walls.
In 2001 the VSLF had the Re 6/6 11689 as a promotional locomotive . It is the only Re 6/6 advertising locomotive.
history
The VSLF was founded in 1876 as one of the oldest professional associations in Switzerland and developed steadily until 1919, when many railway professional associations merged to form the SEV . He did not join it; such a procedure was rejected by the grassroots in a strike vote. Thereafter, the number of members decreased constantly, so that the VSLF was forced to join the SEV in 1933. He merged with the sub-association LPV. The union lasted a quarter of a century.
In 1957, dissatisfied locomotive drivers split off because of losses and setbacks for the driving staff after failed attempts to change the SEV statutes and re-founded the VSLF. From that time until today the VSLF has grown steadily. He also became the collective labor agreement GAV social partner of the Swiss Federal Railways, SBB Cargo AG, SBB Cargo international AG , BLS AG , RegionAlps SA, Thurbo AG, TILO SA and SOB AG .
Structure of the VSLF
Board
The association's board currently consists of nine people elected by the general assembly. According to the statutes, all board members and the president must be active train drivers. In addition to the President, there is currently a representative from SBB P, SBB Cargo, KTU, Cargo, Romandie, Ticino, a treasurer and a GAV representative on the Executive Board.
The association's president is Hubert Giger from Zurich.
Sections
The VSLF has several sections, these are Basel, Bern, BLS, Brig, Genève, Hauenstein-Bözberg, Romandie, Luzern-Gotthard, Eastern Switzerland, Thurbo, SOB, and Ticino. The sections have their own board of directors and hold a section general assembly every autumn.
General Assembly
The general assembly, which takes place every spring, is the supreme body of the VSLF. All members are invited to do so. Important people from the railways and the world of railways are invited to the official part of the GA. The venue of the GV changes every year. Every member of the VSLF can submit proposals to the GA.