After all train traffic in Austria came to a standstill on Monday, the next strikes are threatening next weekend. Because: Retail could also strike across the country next Friday and Saturday. More than 300 companies would be affected.
As a result of the railway strike, the city entrances, Altmannsdorfer Straße, the Südautobahn (A2), the Südwesttangente (A23) and the Donauuferautobahn (A22) were totally overloaded, especially in Vienna.
The brewers also held a warning strike on Monday after no agreement was reached in the fourth round of KVs. The association had only offered the companies a wage increase of 6.5 percent, less than the agreed inflation rate.
Failed KV negotiations
The reason for the strike is the failed KV negotiations in the respective sectors. The social partners – trade union and Chamber of Commerce – could not agree until the end. The employee representatives of the vida union are demanding 400 euros more on all KV and actual wages for the railway workers. That would be an average of about twelve percent, according to the union.
New talks scheduled for Tuesday
Even when negotiating the commercial KV – one of the largest collective agreements in Austria – higher salaries are at stake for around 430,000 employees and apprentices in the retail, wholesale and car trade. Talks to avert strikes will continue on Tuesday, but the date has not yet been set.
Among them are large retail chains – including from the food industry -, textile chains, wholesalers and hardware stores. Where there is no works council, there are no corresponding decisions, so there is no threat of strikes. The union rejects one-off payments and wants a decent salary increase given the high inflation.
Offer is “cheat pack”
For employer chief negotiator Rainer Trefelik, the union’s “blocking attitude” is incomprehensible: “Since the last round of negotiations, the number of employer companies that have already declared that they will pay the cost of living premium in full this year has risen sharply.” -Chief negotiator Helga Fichtinger sees the offer as a “sham” because the fixed salary increase is too low.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
