Construction sites across French-speaking Switzerland fell silent on Monday as nearly 7,000 workers walked off the job, escalating a nationwide wave of protests over working conditions.

Demonstrations were held in Geneva, Lausanne, Fribourg and La Chaux-de-Fonds, according to the unions Syna and Unia.

The action follows earlier strikes in the canton of Ticino and in Bern, as negotiations over the national collective labour agreement approach a critical point. The agreement expires at the end of 2025, yet months of talks with the Swiss Society of Building Contractors (SSIC) have failed to yield progress, union representatives said.

Workers are calling for compensation for travel time between company bases and construction sites, shorter and more family-friendly working hours, a paid morning break, higher salaries, and inflation-linked wage adjustments. Union officials argue that current conditions have become “untenable” and accuse employers of pushing for “longer working days for less pay.”

Protests caused brief disruptions in Geneva, where demonstrators blocked the Mont Blanc bridge. In Fribourg, workers gathered outside the local contractors’ association offices in Courtepin. Marches also moved through central Lausanne and La Chaux-de-Fonds.

The movement is set to continue. A second day of action is planned for Tuesday in Lausanne, beginning with a rally at Place de la Navigation at 1:30 p.m. Further protests will follow on November 7 in north-western Switzerland, and on November 14 in Zurich and other German-speaking regions. Photo by Greenmars, Wikimedia commons.