The Union of Construction and Industry (german: Gewerkschaft Bau und Industrie, GBI; french: Syndicat industrie et bâtiment) was a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

representing workers in various industries in Switzerland. The union was founded on 1 January 1993, when the

Union of Construction and Wood The Union of Construction and Wood (german: Gewerkschaft Bau und Holz, GBH; french: Syndicat du bâtiment et du bois) was a trade union representing workers in the building and woodworking industries in Switzerland. The union was founded in 1922, w ...

merged with the Union of Textiles, Chemicals and Paper. The union was the largest in Switzerland, with an initial 125,000 members, and 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 and represents 361,000 members in its affiliated unions (2015). The SGB has close ties with ...

. The GBI adopted a more left-wing position than its predecessors, leading

industrial action Industrial action (British English) or job action (American English) is a temporary show of dissatisfaction by employees—especially a strike action, strike or slowdown or working to rule—to protest against bad working conditions or low pay a ...

including a major strike of construction workers in 2002. However, many of the areas it covered were in decline, and its membership fell accordingly. By 1998, its membership was down to 99,780, with 90% working in construction, 8% in woodworking, and just 2% in other areas. In 2003, membership had fallen a little further, to 90,983, and the following year, the union merged with the Union for Industry, Trade and Services and the Union of Sales, Trade, Transport and Food, forming

Unia ''Unia'' ( en, Dreams), 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 ...

. Throughout its history, the union was led by Vasco Pedrina.

References

{{Authority control Building and construction trade unions Trade unions established in 1993 Trade unions disestablished in 2004 Trade unions in Switzerland