Collective bargaining for the public sector started on Monday under poor conditions. On the one hand, the economic prospects are poor, on the other hand, the government no longer has a parliamentary majority. Nevertheless, the president of the Public Service Union, Eckehard Quin, emphasizes that purchasing power is sustainably assured. The employee representatives have already decided on control measures – that is also quite unusual.
Quin argued this on Monday by saying that they had to wait a quarter of a year for an appointment. For Civil Service Minister Werner Kogler (Greens), it is a “good right” for civil service representatives to announce corresponding measures. He justified the delay in negotiations by saying that the Ministry of Finance had not provided a representative for them.
Ultimately, Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) came personally to the talks on Monday. The question is whether he will complete this. Because in about two weeks he will move to the European Commission in Brussels. Addressing civil service representatives today, he said making big demands ahead of the talks was “not productive”.
The President of the Court of Auditors is causing a stir with her demands
Audit Chamber President Margit Kraker recently caused a bit of a stir when she called for a zero wage round, given the bleak budget situation. Kogler clearly does not benefit much from this, even though he spoke of a difficult economic climate. He recalled complaints that the public sector as an employer could not keep up with the private sector because salaries were too low. ÖAAB chairman August Wöginger responded much sharper in a broadcast. Kraker should concentrate on her tasks and not do politics: “It is probably not clear to her that the Court of Audit is a supervisory body of parliament and not a political body.”
Another problem with the talks is the lack of a government majority in the National Council. A third partner would be needed to decide on civil servants’ salaries, as Kogler also emphasized. The logical thing here would be the approval of the SPÖ, whose negotiators also play an important role in the talks on the civil service side.
Big demo planned for November 26th
No results are expected from the first round. In this regard, it can be assumed that the agreed combat measures will also begin. Department and company meetings will be held next Monday to provide information on the situation and how to proceed. A major demonstration is planned for November 26 in Vienna, exactly the day before the elections for employee representatives begin.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
