There is no longer any threat of a new strike at Austrian Airlines (AUA) for the time being. The AUA management and the Vida trade union reached agreement on a new collective labor agreement for shipboard personnel on Thursday after lengthy negotiations in more than twenty rounds. The negotiated increase is certainly impressive…
The salaries of all approximately 2,400 flight attendants and approximately 1,000 pilots will increase by an average of 19.4 percent in three phases from April 2024 and from January 2025 and January 2026, negotiators announced on Thursday evening. The salaries of co-pilots will be increased by an additional eleven percent on average.
The agreement is subject to a positive vote by the Vida union, the AUA explained in the press release. Voting will take place in the coming days. The works council and the union recommend approval this time, the union told the APA.
The ‘duty of peace’ agreed
In addition to the salary increases, a so-called peace obligation was agreed, the AUA announced. This stipulates that no business disruptions in the form of strikes may occur during the term of the collective labor agreement. A strike and several company meetings in the spring led to hundreds of flight cancellations and caused millions in damage.
“Negotiations are an uphill battle to best represent the interests of everyone involved. With the current deal, we have managed to strike a balance between employee needs and interest in business planning. Now that the peace commitment has been agreed for the first time, our passengers can rely on us again,” the AUA management said about the agreement.
“Rise above the inflation rate”
“This negotiated solution represents a significant increase in salaries for AUA inflight personnel above the rate of inflation,” Daniel Liebhart, president of the Vida union’s aviation division, said in a statement. Inflation over the entire term is compensated according to the actual amount.
“The three-year term meets an employer requirement and not only ensures planning certainty for the company, but also ensures high-quality and reliable flight operations for passengers. This means that travelers will be able to book their airline tickets with Austrian Airlines without hesitation in the coming years,” concludes Liebhart.
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.
