The fourth round of collective labor agreement negotiations for the 430,000 employees and apprentices in the retail sector also failed to produce an agreement on November 28. The first warning strikes will now take place at selected locations across Austria from November 30 to December 3.
Initially it was said from negotiating circles that there were efforts on both sides, good discussions and a convergence of positions. Ultimately it wasn’t enough and negotiations broke down that evening.
There are major differences in the positions: Where employers originally offered a five percent salary increase and a one-off payment of 800 euros for the 430,000 store employees, this is now six percent and a one-off bonus for living costs. of 1,000 euros.
This corresponds to a gross increase of 12.02 percent for lower incomes and an increase of 10.05 percent for higher incomes, according to the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ).
Original claim reduced
Trade union GPA lowered its original demand to 9.5 percent and a fixed amount of 40 euros. On Tuesday, the social partners agreed on a 9.2 percent salary increase for employees in the private health, care and social sectors.
KV deals of more than nine percent are not possible for companies in the retail sector, the plus in the social economy is financed by the public sector, WKÖ-Rainer Trefelik admitted on Tuesday in an article in the Ö1-Mittagsjournal. “Unfortunately we do not have this option in stores. We have to generate the money, we have to keep the businesses going.”
Strikes in the Christmas business?
The union was unimpressed and promised warning strikes over the Christmas period if no deal was reached today. The warning attacks would begin on November 30. There is already a strike permit from the ÖGB. The first shopping Saturday of Advent takes place on December 2.
It would be a novelty if the trade were completed before the metalheads. After numerous strikes, the metal workers will enter their eighth round of talks on Thursday.
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.
