150 employees of frozen producer Ardo Austria Frost stopped working on Monday. The strike in Groß-Enzersdorf started at 10 a.m. and will last until the end of the late shift, a statement from the Pro-Ge union said. The requirement is 200 euros more net salary per month.
However, the factory and group management refused to negotiate an internal wage increase with the works council, it was said. The company also referred to the collective labor agreement negotiations that would take place in the autumn anyway. Current inflation must also be taken into account. Ardo Austria Frost produces for Iglo, among others, and supplies to supermarkets such as Hofer, Billa and Spar. About 300 farmers provide raw materials such as peas, carrots and spinach.
“Longer industrial action possible”
The association demands an increase of 200 euros net per month. Ultimately, the employees contributed to a group profit of 78 million euros, according to works council chairman Dietmar Breiner. “We demand serious negotiations on equal terms.” If there is no negotiation offer on Tuesday, further measures will follow on Wednesday. “A longer labor dispute and loss of production are then possible,” announced Pro-Ge state manager Patrick Slacik.
A production stop as a result of the strike could lead to a large amount of food being destroyed. “We regret this situation and are trying to clarify the matter as quickly as possible and find a constructive solution,” said Managing Director Michael Höbinger.
Ardo Austria Frost is part of the European family business “ardo”, based in Belgium. The net profit for the entire group last year amounted to 17 million euros.
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.
