After ten hours the meeting was interrupted and the union announced combat measures in a broadcast that evening. GPA and vida want to increase the pressure with company meetings, demonstrations and other actions. The employers were nevertheless optimistic.
Remaining at the current level with pure inflation compensation does not show the appreciation that those employed deserve, said GPA negotiator Eva Scherz angrily. Anyone who wants to make the industry more attractive needs two key factors, a higher salary and better working conditions, said Sonja Hör from vida.
Rally planned in Linz
Now there will be works meetings throughout Austria, a works council conference in Styria and, in exactly one week, a demonstration in Vienna. A rally is scheduled to take place in Linz the next day. The goal remains an increase of 6.1 percent. Therefore, on November 22nd, employees’ activities will be interrupted for six minutes.
For the employers’ negotiator Yvonne Hochsteiner, the current offer is already “attractive” compared to the industry: “We are offering inflation for the twelve months in question right from the start.” This is being done even though it is not yet clear whether the funding agencies will go along with this, as the recession will force them to make enormous savings. Rolling inflation would currently be 3.53 percent for the period November 2023 to October 2024.
“There’s hardly any room for maneuver”
For Hochsteiner there would be “hardly any leeway”: “We are willing to talk at certain points, but everything has to remain within a realistic framework.” The next round of negotiations, which is also the last scheduled one, will take place on November 25th. The new collective agreement will apply from January 1st next year.
ePaper
**Interview with Eva Scherz, Negotiator for GPA, and Yvonne Hochsteiner, Employers’ Negotiator**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today for this important discussion about the recent labor negotiations regarding salary increases and working conditions in your industry. Eva, let’s start with you. Can you tell us about the union’s stance following the recent ten-hour meeting?
**Eva Scherz:** Thank you for having us. The long meeting highlighted the serious disconnect between the expectations of employees and the employers’ current offers. We believe that merely providing inflation compensation doesn’t reflect the respect and recognition that workers deserve. To truly attract and retain talent in our industry, we need to see meaningful increases in salaries, ideally around 6.1 percent, along with improvements in working conditions.
**Editor:** Sonja Hör from vida mentioned that both salary increases and better working conditions are essential. What specific actions is the union planning to take to achieve these goals?
**Eva Scherz:** In light of the employers’ insufficient responses, we are ramping up our activities across Austria. We have scheduled works meetings, a council conference, and planned demonstrations, including a significant rally in Vienna next week. Additionally, we will pause employee activities briefly on November 22nd to draw attention to our cause. We’re committed to amplifying our voices.
**Editor:** Yvonne, from the employers’ perspective, how do you respond to the union’s demands and their planned actions?
**Yvonne Hochsteiner:** We certainly understand the union’s position, but we must also balance that with the current economic realities. We believe our existing offer—which includes inflation compensation for the past twelve months—is already competitive within the industry landscape. However, we acknowledge that we may have limited leeway to increase our offer further without jeopardizing the stability of the companies involved.
**Editor:** Eva, how do you respond to Yvonne’s points about economic constraints and the current offer being “attractive”?
**Eva Scherz:** While we appreciate the perspective from the employers, the reality is that in order to ensure long-term stability and satisfaction among employees, we cannot settle for just inflation compensation. Workers need to feel valued and that starts with a salary increase that truly reflects their contributions. A stagnant offer can lead to dissatisfaction, which we are keen to avoid.
**Editor:** Yvonne, what can workers expect in the upcoming negotiation round scheduled for November 25th?
**Yvonne Hochsteiner:** We will certainly come back to the negotiating table open to discussions. However, I must reiterate that we are operating within tight financial constraints. We are committed to finding a resolution that is both fair to employees and sustainable for the businesses.
**Editor:** Thank you both for your insights. It’s clear that both parties have significant points to consider as negotiations continue. We’ll keep a close eye on how this situation unfolds in the coming weeks.
