The conflict between worker representatives and the AUA continues to smolder – signs are already pointing further towards a strike before the Easter holidays on Friday evening. The decision of the works council and union could be announced around lunchtime on Saturday. “It won’t be very short.”
AUA flight crew threatened to strike next Holy Week if the employer did not make a “serious offer” on Friday.
“We discussed the provisional offer together with the works council and have decided to take a concrete decision in the trade union committees tomorrow (Saturday, note) on the combat measures surrounding the Easter holidays,” said Daniel Liebhart, chairman of Vida’s aviation department, on Friday night.
Decision already on Saturday afternoon?
When asked, the trade unionist did not rule out a strike of several days, but did not want to be more specific. “It won’t be very short.” “We’ll see on Saturday what exactly we decide,” Liebhart said. A decision could be announced over lunch.
Deadline for new offers is midnight on Friday
As previously announced, we would also have to wait until midnight on Friday to see if the company would come up with a new offer. However, that seemed unrealistic. The AUA once again referred to its existing ‘fair offer’ – which employees do not see as such. It is only an inflation adjustment and not a valuation, the report says.
An AUA spokeswoman told APA: “The union and the works council still have a choice: either they decide on further negotiations in the interests of our employees and passengers, or they decide on escalation measures.” The company is also open to further negotiations at any time and would be happy to discuss the offer made yesterday.
Both sides criticize a lack of willingness to talk
Liebhart again criticized the company’s board of directors, which “left even though the AUA denied this.” This detail of the dispute showed Friday how complicated the situation could be. Both sides accused each other of not appearing at the negotiating table. So in the endless loop of this KV dispute, the cat bit its own tail again on Friday evening. There have been sixteen failed rounds of talks so far.
The airline’s offer includes a salary increase of 18 percent and up to 28 percent for co-pilots, the AUA said. However, the KV should then apply until the end of 2025. According to the AUA, the union’s demand amounts to increases of up to 40 percent, which are valid for ten months. “Last year we would have made a loss,” the AUA said. However, the union noted that these were numbers games. And: They are certainly prepared to negotiate a KV over the next 22 months – until the end of 2025.
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.
