2023-09-20 16:40:30
The Austrian Trade Union Confederation (ÖGB) called for an end to inflation with a human chain around the restricted area of parliament on Wednesday evening. Equipped with stop signs and banners accusing the government of inaction and appealing for a stop to inflation, trade unionists, among others, gathered at Ballhausplatz, Votivpark and Maria-Theresien-Platz from 5 p.m.
“Finally take inflation-dampening measures!” shouted ÖGB President Wolfgang Katzian on the stage at Ballhausplatz. Appeals and whistle concerts were addressed to the Federal Chancellery opposite, but above all to the elected officials who gathered on Wednesday for the first regular National Council meeting after the summer break. However, no assembly is allowed to take place directly in front of Parliament during a session, which is why the rally moved to the restricted area. At 6 p.m. the call was made to close the chain. This happened everywhere, it was said at Ballhausplatz.
The ÖGB announced in advance that a family with two children would have to spend around 1,234 euros more on food alone this year than a year ago. The costs for natural gas have almost tripled compared to two years ago, those for district heating have almost doubled, and firewood and heating oil have become around 50 percent more expensive. The union also criticized the increased rental costs; according to Katzian, the measures recently presented were “at best a headline-grabbing rent cap.” He was confident that the unions would achieve good increases in the autumn wage round.
It was agreed at the rally that the government’s measures against inflation were not sufficient. GPA chairwoman Barbara Teiber also complained that tenants have now gone through several rent increases. The government is sleeping idly by the pendulum clock, criticized the chairman of the production union (PRO-GE), Reinhold Binder. The visitors to the rally also included SPÖ chairman Andreas Babler and SPÖ National Council member Jörg Leichtfried.
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