Starting today, Monday, there will be several warning strikes by employees in the metal technology industry. As reported, the chief negotiators on the trade union and employer sides have failed to reach agreement on the new collective labor agreement after four rounds of talks. The elevator technicians in Vienna are kicking things off. Some motorists will likely feel the effects of this warning strike. Because the strikers are gathering in Triesterstraat.
This has been closed in both directions between Gödelgasse and Windtenstrasse since 6:30 am. The closure will end around 10:30 am. ÖGB boss Wolfgang Katzian and AK president Renate Anderl are also expected on the street at this working meeting. More warning attacks will take place through Wednesday. The social partners will meet again at the negotiating table on Thursday.
The employers made some concessions to the unions in the fourth round, but are still far from what PRO-GE and GPA are demanding – namely 11.6 percent more wages and salaries. The sector has presented two models, one of which envisages a calculation period of two years, which the unions reject. If there is no agreement even after the warning strike, regular strikes may follow.
Two major work stoppages in recent history
Strike statistics in the metal sector show two major work stoppages in the recent past: in 2011 there were strikes in approximately 200 companies with 100,000 employees and in 2018 in more than 240 companies with more than 70,000 employees.
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.
