Strikes are now also threatening in Austrian private hospitals. At a works council conference on Wednesday, demands for an income increase of 500 euros and a higher starting wage were endorsed and it was decided to apply for a strike permit from the ÖGB.
According to vida negotiator Harald Steer, the employers’ latest offer before Christmas was “a far cry” from workers’ expectations, who referred to rising bills for loans, rent, energy and food. Although the employers had accepted the minimum requirement of EUR 2,000 gross for the starting salary, the remaining salaries would also have to be significantly increased in view of the rapidly rising consumer prices. Since there is not even another date for negotiations on the part of the employers, the decision to strike is a “necessary step”.
10,000 workers affected
The private hospitals association was recently “surprised” by the union’s announcement that it planned to discuss how to proceed with collective bargaining negotiations at a works council conference. After all, an “attractive offer” has been made, it says. According to trade union information, 10,000 workers across Austria are affected by the collective agreement for private hospitals.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
