In an interview on krone.tv, Renate Anderl, president of the Chamber of Labor, makes people sit up with clear messages: “The 2.5 percent wage increase for 2024 initially offered by the metalworking employers was like a slap in the face . This is disrespectful and shows no appreciation for employees.” The solution now achieved for 2024 is fair and balanced with an average increase of 9.6 percent.
The situation is different in retail, where people traditionally pay much less than metal workers. There are also many women working in this sector. Even after countless rounds of negotiations, there is still no agreement. Anderl: “Yes, the willingness to strike has increased in recent years because employees have repeatedly been treated disrespectfully during wage negotiations. But it is not the cost of workers that is responsible for the increased inflation, but rather the high profits of the companies that go to the owners and management.” Studies have also proven this.
Rent payments are the biggest problem
The biggest problems for employees right now are the high rent payments and the drastically increased costs for food and energy. Anderl: “You can still try to save money on food somehow. But there are also plenty of people who tell me that they sit at home in front of the television with a scarf and hat because they can no longer afford the enormous heating costs.”
You can see many more details about the current wage negotiations and current strike costs in the video above.
We explain what Austria is currently dealing with: the latest news conversations with politicians and experts.
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.
