Unions are calling the decision by Novartis to keep its plant near Nyon open a historic success.

The pharma giant announced an agreement with unions and the Vaud cantonal government to save over 300 jobs that were on the chopping block.

Strikes are rare in Switzerland. But last fall employees at the Novartis plant in Prangins walked off the job to protest the restructuring plan.

And across the political spectrum politicians in Vaud rallied to defend the plant which Novartis said wasn’t profitable.

Several months at the negotiating table yielded what everyone has called a good deal.

Novartis will make new investments to qualify for tax breaks from the canton and some workers will have longer hours.

But the jobs will be saved. It’s less of a victory for Basel where 700 layoffs were initially planned.

A third of them will see early retirement.

Another third will be placed in other jobs within the company.

And the fate of the final third is still up in the air.