Schweizerischer Gewerkschaftsbund

What Schweizerischer Gewerkschaftsbund does

The Schweizerischer Gewerkschaftsbund (SGB | USS) is Switzerland's largest trade union federation, headquartered in Bern. It operates as an umbrella organization coordinating 16 trade union federations, 80 affiliated member unions, and 24 cantonal associations that together represent approximately 400,000 Swiss workers across all cantons. Member unions span multiple sectors including industry, construction, services, public sector, transport, and media/communication, with affiliates such as Unia (the largest Swiss trade union), SEV, Syndicom, and VPOD.

The federation's core activities revolve around political advocacy, collective bargaining support, and workers' rights representation rather than technology products. Its operational offerings include the Lohnrechner (online salary calculator at lohnrechner.ch), email newsletters, membership enrollment, continuing education services, and substantive publications including the Handbook on Collective Labor Law (now in its 2nd edition). Content platforms include the chief economist's blog by Daniel Lampart and Der Europa-Blog covering European labor affairs. SGB holds institutional representation on key Swiss bodies including the Suva Council (vice-presidency), the ALV unemployment insurance oversight commission (vice-presidency), the Swiss National Bank Council, and the Competition Commission (Weko), and works with the International Labour Organization on transnational labor matters.

As a non-profit association, SGB is funded primarily through membership dues paid by affiliated unions based on their membership numbers. It does not sell products commercially, has no venture capital or external ownership, and is not required to publish financial statements. Leadership comprises President Pierre-Yves Maillard, with Daniel Lampart (serving ~20 years as Chief Economist and 15 years as Secretary General) announcing departure at end of 2026 to lead worker representation in the 2nd pillar pension system, and Gabriela Medici assuming sole secretariat leadership following the November 2026 SGB Congress.

Name

Schweizerischer Gewerkschaftsbund

Legal name

Schweizerischer Gewerkschaftsbund

Website

https://sgb.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Schweizerischer Gewerkschaftsbund (SGB) is Switzerland's largest trade union federation, coordinating 16 federations, 80 unions, and 24 cantonal associations representing approximately 400,000 workers through political advocacy, collective bargaining support, and labor policy lobbying across all Swiss cantons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: SGB generates revenue through membership fees paid by affiliated trade unions. Member unions pay dues based on their membership numbers, which fund the federation's operations, advocacy activities, and policy research.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SGB is Switzerland's largest trade union federation, representing approximately 400,000 workers through affiliated unions and cantonal associations. It advocates for workers' rights via political lobbying, collective bargaining support, referenda, and public campaigns, and provides member services including a salary calculator, publications, legal references on collective labor law, continuing education, and institutional representation in federal bodies.

Product overview

The Schweizerischer Gewerkschaftsbund (SGB) operates as Switzerland's largest trade union federation, offering primarily informational and advocacy services rather than technology products. The core offerings include the Lohnrechner (salary calculator) for wage transparency, newsletter subscription services, union membership enrollment, and various publications including the Handbuch zum kollektiven Arbeitsrecht legal reference. The organization maintains content platforms through the Daniel Lampart blog and Der Europa-Blog, providing analysis on economic and labor policy issues. Additional services include continuing education offerings and publications covering labor rights, social policy, and collective bargaining topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lohnrechner (Salary Calculator) Online salary calculator providing reliable guidance for employees and job seekers in Switzerland to compare wages and understand their entitlements.
• Union Membership (Gewerkschaftsmitglied werden) Online membership registration service enabling interested individuals to join affiliated trade unions and receive further information about membership benefits.
• Handbuch zum kollektiven Arbeitsrecht (Handbook on Collective Labor Law) Standard legal reference work on collective labor law, providing comprehensive coverage of employee representation rights, co-determination, coalition freedom, and strike rights. Now in its 2nd updated edition.
• Weiterbildung (Continuing Education) Educational and training services offered to union members and workers covering labor rights and union topics.
• Publikationen/Bücher/Broschüren (Publications) Publications including articles, press releases, dossiers, consultation responses, and books/brochures covering labor rights, social policy, and union topics.
• Newsletter Subscription Email-based information service allowing users to subscribe and receive updates on union activities, news, and campaigns.

Quantifiable outcome

• Coordinated successful referendum against minimum wage attacks protecting workers in Geneva, Neuchâtel, Zürich, and Winterthur
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, core and minor.

• Berner Fachhochschule (BFH)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerSGB co-organizes events with Bern University of Applied Sciences, including the 30th anniversary event for the Swiss Gender Equality Act, featuring joint panels and academic collaboration.
• FRI - Schweizerisches Institut für feministische Rechtswissenschaft und Gender LawmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerSGB collaborates with FRI (Swiss Institute for Feminist Legal Studies and Gender Law) on events and research related to gender equality in the workplace, including the 30-year anniversary of the Gender Equality Act.
• Tripartite Cantonal CommissionscoreOthersSGB participates in tripartite commissions at cantonal level for implementing flanking measures against wage dumping, working with cantonal authorities and employer organizations to enforce labor protections.
• Suva CouncilcoreOthersSGB holds vice-presidency in the Suva Council (Swiss National Accident Insurance), representing worker interests in Switzerland's largest accident insurance institution.
• ALV-Ausgleichsfonds Oversight CommissioncoreOthersSGB maintains vice-presidency in the oversight commission of the unemployment insurance (ALV) compensation fund, representing employee interests in social security administration.
• Schweizerische Nationalbank (SNB) - Bank CouncilmoderateOthersSGB holds representation on the Bank Council of the Swiss National Bank, contributing to monetary policy discussions that affect workers and the economy.
• Weko (Wettbewerbskommission)moderateOthersSGB holds membership in the Competition Commission (Weko), advocating for consumer and worker interests in competition policy decisions.
• Jugendallianz gegen 10-Millionen-InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSGB is part of a broad youth alliance (including Junge Grünliberale, Junge Mitte, Junge Grüne, Juso, Junge EVP, SAJV, VSS) opposing the SVP's population cap initiative and defending youth interests.
• ILO (Internationale Arbeitsorganisation)coreOthersSGB works with the International Labour Organization and was involved in the landmark ILO International Court of Justice ruling confirming strike rights as part of freedom of association.
• CIEPP (Caisse institucionalisée d'épargne-pension)minorOthersCIEPP is a social partnership-managed pension fund in Geneva that pays a 13th pension payment, cited by SGB as an example of successful labor-management cooperation in improving pension benefits.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gewerkschaftsgb
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXvaG0kQ_oAn4G8WQbJ9mug
• Facebookfacebook.com/gewerkschaftsbund
• Instagraminstagram.com/sgb_gewerkschaftsbund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schweizerischer-gewerkschaftsbund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schweizerischer Gewerkschaftsbund