Syndicat Patronal des Producteurs de la Montre à La Chaux-de-Fonds

The Syndicat Patronal des Producteurs de la Montre à La Chaux-de-Fonds was an industrial organization in La Chaux-de-Fonds to promote the interests of watchmakers. It was founded in 1917 and lasted through the 1990s.

Establishment

The Syndicat Patronal des Producteurs de la Montre à La Chaux-de-Fonds was established on December 21, 1917. The organization was formed to defend the interests of its members and employers as well as the general interests of the watchmaking industry in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It aimed to regulate relations between members, their employees, and unions following a general strike that crippled production in the city. It also represented these companies to the local and cantonal authorities, the Chambre Cantonale Neuchâteloise du Commerce, de l'Industrie et du Travail, and to the Chambre Suisse de l'Horlogerie. Finally the organization studied and shared information on customs issues and treaties of commerce, the application of federal laws on the control of gold, silver and platinum, and other laws concerning work in factories, accident insurance, consular representation abroad, and so on.

Membership was open to any person in the commercial register producing watches in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It also allowed members who were producers of watch components, watch merchants, bankers, and suppliers. The offices of the Syndicat were at Rue Léopold Robert 66.

The initial committee was composed of president Arnold Braunschweig, treasurer Charles-A. Delimoge, vice-presidents Georges Eberhard and Iidore Ditesheim, assessors Jules-C. Breitmeyer, Louis Courvoisier (the younger), Paul Ditisheim, Alphonse Gogler, Abram Jéanneret, Albert Mosimann, Otto Schild, Raphaël Schwob, banker Raoul Goetse, and union secretary Gustave Bubloz.