“In the new year I want to enter into discussions with the Chamber of Commerce regarding a general collective agreement that will ensure the 2,000 euros,” said Katzian in a daily newspaper. WKÖ boss Harald Mahrer calls for relief in the “Presse” (Friday editions).
They had already discussed it in the fall, but wanted to wait for the results of the wage negotiations. “Now would be a good time for the general collective agreement – with appropriate transitional steps. I hope that there will be talks in January.” In response to an APA request on Friday, there was no short-term response from the Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ).
A general collective agreement generally applies to all companies for which the WKÖ has collective bargaining capacity. This affects millions of workers. The union’s next target is well over 2,000 euros – towards 2,300 gross income.
Concern “2024 will be a mixed year”
In an interview with the “Presse”, WKÖ President Mahrer expressed concern “that 2024 will be a very mixed year”. “Of course, the loss of competitiveness is of great concern to him.” “We therefore also need a location relief package for 2024 – in the form of a significant reduction in non-wage labor costs and incentives for investments,” said the top economic chamberlain.
Calls for reductions in non-wage labor costs have recently hit Katzian. “Anyone who now wants to reduce non-wage labor costs wants to question things that were fought for by the unions and employees,” criticized the trade unionist recently.
Metaller degree “at the limit of what is possible”
During the negotiations in the autumn wage round, “we said what was going on with the greatest possible clarity,” Mahrer continued to tell the “Presse”. “And I believe that the collective bargaining partnership will have to rethink how to deal with it (high inflation, note) in the future. Do you continue to focus on certain formulas or do you also allow other factors to be taken into account?”
The metalworking qualification was “at the limit of what was possible”. “An exciting approach has been chosen with the hardship clause for companies that have a particularly difficult time competing,” said the top economic treasurer.
