The AUAS salary negotiations are currently leading nowhere. Employee strikes and flight cancellations are the result. The “Krone” now asked state governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) what consequences this has for the airport in Schwechat.
“Kron”: Madam Governor, is the Schwechat airport location in danger due to the disputes at Austrian Airlines?
Mikl Leitner: Salary negotiations are part of economic life. But hopefully it is clear that no one is happy when thousands of people are denied their dream holiday. I think both parties are aware of that. And I’m not going to point the finger at one side and say they’re to blame. I just hope that passengers no longer have to suffer from this situation. Austria has always benefited from a constructive social partnership, from the willingness of both parties to approach each other and find a common, fair solution. I therefore advise both parties to use common sense: caution and the ability to compromise. In the interests of the company and employment, and especially in the interests of the customers.
What does the dispute mean for the airport in general?
Naturally, the AUA plays a major role in the success of Schwechat Airport. And thus also in the success of Lower Austria as a business location. But as I said, salary negotiations are part of economic life. At least that is the case in civilized countries.
How important is the airport for the economic power of the state of Lower Austria?
To classify this correctly: we are rightly proud that in recent years we have created preconditions that ensure that Lower Austrians have the highest family incomes and the highest purchasing power in all of Austria. And it should be noted that Vienna Airport, with over 4,300 employees and a total turnover of almost one billion euros, is of course one of the most important companies in the entire eastern region. That, with 30 million passengers, is our gateway to the world, so to speak. Also from an economic point of view.
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.
