Psychiatry Baselland: Why the 2026 wage round is being criticized

This year, wage negotiations between Psychiatrie Baselland and several staff associations ended without agreement for the first time. The proposed salary update for 2026 is limited to an inflation adjustment of 0.2%. For the associations involved, this is tantamount to a de facto zero increase – and the move has drawn strong criticism from employee representatives.

Background to the negotiations

Since 2016, PBL has held annual wage negotiations with associations such as VPOD, SBK BSBL, VSAO and Syna. To date, these have always been amicable – in 2025, however, the clinic management did not want to meet the demands for larger wage increases. According to PBL, these exceed the clinic’s current financial possibilities.

What PBL offers – and what the criticism is

The clinic offered a general wage adjustment of 0.2% for 2026 – i.e. only compensation for inflation. The staff associations see this as insufficient appreciation. Particularly critical: in comparison, employees at the University Psychiatric Clinics Basel (UPK) receive a pay rise of around 1.26%. According to the associations, PBL’s meagre offer signals a lack of perspective and sends a demotivating signal.

Reaction of the staff associations and possible next steps

The associations declared the negotiations to have failed and are now examining further measures. They are demanding that the Board of Directors of PBL – and possibly the responsible canton as owner – intervene to compensate for the loss of real wages and protect the institution’s reputation.

From the PBL perspective: economic necessity

The PBL points out that it has been recording economic losses for years. An extensive wage increase is currently not feasible. Nevertheless, the clinic emphasizes that it grants full compensation for inflation and that the wage level is above the regional average according to market comparisons. The aim is to get back into the black and ensure long-term stability.

Conclusion

The dispute at Psychiatrie Baselland clearly shows how tense the situation in the healthcare sector can currently be: On the one hand, economic pressure and budget constraints; on the other, rising costs and staff expectations. The now failed wage round carries the risk of dissatisfaction, staff shortages or even a loss of image for the facility – especially if comparisons are consistently drawn with neighboring clinics. It remains to be seen whether the associations will be able to push through their demands or whether PBL will be able to score points with stability in the long term.