Spring gets hot! Not only because of the weather, but mainly because of the heavy wage negotiations that are currently being treated. About 130,000 employees in important sectors such as chemistry, electric, glass and paper shake for their salary plus. Trade Union Boss Reinhold Binder (Pro-GE) already makes clear: “An inflation balance is now the most important thing!”
The collective agreement in the spring includes the chemical industry (50,000 employees), electrical and electronics industry (60,000 employees), glass industry (6,500 employees), paper industry (8,000 employees) and textile industry (7,500 employees). A total of around 130,000 employees are worried. Only in the textile industry was one of April 1, 2025 agreed to increase the KV and Ist -wonen from 1 April 2025, of 0.3 percent above rolling inflation.
Completion under the inflation “unthinkable”
The paper industry on March 19, followed by the electrical and electronics industry on March 21 and the chemical industry on March 26 on March 26. Pro-ge-boss Wimmer is on a noticeable increase in income. “A conclusion under rolling inflation is unthinkable,” he emphasizes. This was last (March 2024 to February 2025) at 2.8 percent.
“The work must be worth something!”
Binder leaves no doubt that the trade unions will negotiate hard: “The work must be worth something, and as a trade union we do not want to devalue the work in any way!” A real Snap idea is the last question from Kurt Maier, president of the Styrian Industrial Association, to freeze wages for three years. Binder: “This touches the floor to the barrel and bears witness to enormous myopia. We will be fought for this. Nullln rounds would be poison for the domestic economy and would finally feed the economy.
The boss of the Union disturbs the permanent dead singing in the business location: “Industrial representatives have been painting the devil on the wall for months when it comes to wage rounds,” Counter Binder. But Binder is optimistic: “If we come back to the industrial workstations in a few years, then we will be proud of the industrial location of Austria!”
Warn entrepreneurs of competitive stocks
The entrepreneur sees the location less rosy. The domestic industry has been falling in the crisis since 2023: sales and investments have fallen. Employers claim that the strong wage increases from the past two years – a total of around 20 percent – have damaged the competitiveness of Austria. But binders with facts: in 2024 there were 6587 business bankruptcies in Austria, but only 280 of them concerned industrial companies. Moreover, the production volume has risen by no less than 68.5 percent since 2000-a top value in the EU comparison! In Germany, for example, there was a production plus of only 8.3 percent.
Another argument of the Union: the wage costs – ie the wage costs per amount generated – are in Austria under those of the most important trading partners. And the wage not only increased, but only as a result of high inflation, the binder emphasizes. It is clear to him: “The economy can be incredibly proud of employees who have a high bond with the companies. This treasure should not be damaged or attacked, but you should have and retain and protect it.
Conclusion: a hot dwelling -marathon is on your hands!
The fronts are paved, the arguments sand sharply. While the entrepreneurs warn against competitiveness, the trade unions are on fair wages and a balance between inflation. One thing is clear: the negotiations will not be a walk. However, the union does not want to take it down!
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.
