2023-04-22 11:33:06
Ludwig: Real equality needs strong trade unions
Vienna (OTS/SPW) – Vienna Women’s Secretary Nicole Berger-Krotsch opened the annual conference of the Viennese SPÖ women today, Saturday, which took place under the motto “Because life can do more” in Stage 3 in Vienna/Landstrasse. At the conference, the Viennese SPÖ women made it clear: Feminist politics is central in the face of multiple crises. More than ever, the climate crisis, inflation, war and the effects of the pandemic call for solidarity and the empowerment of women through systemic changes. Words of welcome came from the federal party chairperson Dr.in Pamela Rendi-Wagner, Dr. Mayor Michael Ludwig and Federal Women’s President Eva-Maria Holzleitner, BSc.
Rendi-Wagner: “The task of the federal government is to ensure equal opportunities.”
Federal party leader Dr Pamela Rendi-Wagner found clear words at the beginning: “Women are particularly badly affected by inflation. Women still earn less than men and do the lion’s share of unpaid work. With real salary transparency and the expansion of all-day free childcare throughout Austria, we can empower women. It is the task of the federal government to ensure equal opportunities so that women have the opportunity to work full-time at all. The fact that Labor Minister Kocher threatened women working part-time to cut their family benefits is completely the wrong way.”
Holzleitner: “It’s high time for half and half in all areas of life. Good laws are necessary for this.”
Federal Women’s President Eva-Maria Holzleitner, BSc, also confirmed this in her opening speech: “Women and men should share paid and unpaid work fairly. It is high time for half-half in all areas of life. Good laws are necessary for this. Every second woman in Austria works part-time, and thus accepts a loss of salary and pension.” Holzleitner emphasized concrete measures that are urgently needed: “We demand a legal entitlement to a full-time childcare place from the age of one, a reduction in working hours with a full salary, wage transparency, the obligation to share parental leave and more tax justice. A look at Scandinavia shows what is possible.”
Ludwig: “Strong trade unions are needed for real equality in companies.”
The SPÖ Vienna party leader and Vienna mayor Dr. Michael Ludwig emphasized in his speech: “In Vienna, the wage gap between women and men is the smallest, but that’s not all! Strong trade unions are needed for real equality in the company. That’s why I’m also committed to preserving our system of strong collective agreements, and with it the power of the unions. A statutory minimum wage, on the other hand, would weaken the unions,” said Ludwig. In the fight for an affordable life for women, who are particularly affected by inflation, and for all people in Vienna, the federal government is unfortunately letting them down: “ÖVP Finance Minister Magnus Brunner justifies his decision once morest a price cap for gas and rents with the fact that they would primarily help the Viennese. However, this is not only factually wrong, it also shows the attitude of the federal government: nothing should happen that is good for Vienna. We defend ourselves once morest this and take measures ourselves to keep life in Vienna affordable,” says Ludwig.
Hanke: “As social democratic feminists, we fight for the right to a good, self-determined and dignified life for all women.”
In her opening speech, the chairwoman of the Viennese SPÖ Women, LAbg Marina Hanke, BA, reaffirmed the central position of feminist work in the SPÖ Vienna: “Pandemic, price increases, inflation, climate crisis – they all affect women to a particular extent, bring many women the absolute load limit and are life-threatening. We need far-reaching political measures that relieve women, such as reducing working hours, measures that guarantee half-half in unpaid work, a redistribution of wealth and, above all, a strong welfare state. As social-democratic feminists, that is exactly what we are fighting for: for relief, security, but also for the right to a good, self-determined and dignified life for all women.”
Photos from the event can be found here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/spoewien/albums/72177720307685586/with/52835883787/
(Ending)
Questions & contact:
Viennese SPÖ women
Tel.: 01/534 27 231
Email: vienna.women@spoe.at
1682164594
#SPW #Womens #Conference #Hanke #fight #good #life #women
