Negotiations on a new collective labor agreement (KV) for rail workers are currently at a standstill. The employers have interrupted the negotiations in the fourth round, the WKÖ Association of Railways announced on Sunday evening. “We’re not getting any further and we’re talking to a wall,” explains chief negotiator Thomas Scheiber. The vida union threatened to strike even though they had been offered a salary increase of up to 12 percent.
“It is excessive and irresponsible to propose strike scenarios against the background of this offer,” Scheiber criticized. “The union has completely lost touch with reality. An increase of up to 24 percent on salaries and thus a total of more than 400 million euros is unaffordable for companies and jobs are at risk, “explains the association chairman.
Association: Companies must raise salaries voluntarily
The trade association recommends that its more than 65 member companies, including ÖBB and Westbahn, now reduce salaries “on a voluntary basis and taking into account future increases in health insurance, wages and salaries in advance limited to 12 months from December 1, 2022 per 200 euros per month, but at least by 7.5 percent.”
The employers stressed their willingness to continue negotiations and hoped that vida would change its mind.
Source: Krone
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