Hi tts, Daniel,

Thanks for your replies. Works council sounds probable, because the email referred to "market pricing" in the title. I am not sure if this means I can't negotiate?

The job is in a company of just under 25k employees. At interview I was told I would be managing 8 people, although when I applied for a job of the same title before in CH (which I didn't get), they told me it wasn't a people management position. I am unclear about whether these 8 people are themselves managing teams (my understanding was that they might be, but my understanding during interview was also that I would be negotiating strategy with these people rather than managing them as such; at one point I did wonder if I was being interviewed for 2 positions). If it's relevant, I have a PhD and am 43 years old, but only 4 years experience in this industry (all previous work experience was in academia).
I am actually feeling a lot happier now, thinking that perhaps it went to a work council.

I worked in Germany for 2 years and liked the chicken in the Schnellimbiss there (not sure the Swiss will have anything that common!). I am sure I will find a KFC substitute!

kfc.