Officials: Government Seeks Dialogue

The union has been invited to talks for the coming week, even though an agreement for 2026 had already been made last year, with 0.3 percent above inflation. That they apparently want to retract this now is welcomed by Court of Audit President Margit Kraker: For the rehabilitation of the state budget, this would be "a great gain."

"Talk on Salary Development"

In a letter to the staff representation, which is available to the APA, State Secretary Alexander Pröll (ÖVP) literally invites the chairmen of the civil servants' and municipal employees' unions, Eckehard Quin and Christian Meidlinger, to "a talk on salary development." This is to take place next Tuesday. It is considered likely that the union will attend the meeting.

During the double agreement for 2025/2026, the exceptionally difficult budgetary situation under which the current government is groaning was not yet known. The minister responsible for civil servants after the National Council election, Werner Kogler (Greens), together with the Ministry of Finance and the union, agreed to conclude for 2025 with an average of 3.5 percent, 0.3 percent below inflation, but to make up for it the following year. The threat of industrial action had accelerated the conclusion. The corresponding compromise was then approved by the National Council by all parties except the NEOS.

In view of the budgetary difficulties, voices in the coalition, up to the chancellor, have been advocating renewed talks with the union in recent weeks. That the coalition is not in a good negotiating position is evident from Pröll's wording in the letter: The government is aware that talks "against the background of the already decided conclusion for 2026 represent a particular challenge."

Pröll Against Taboos

Nevertheless, he made it clear in a written statement that the government wants to move away from the decision: "Especially in currently challenging times, we must fulfill our responsibilities in all areas." There should be no taboos, emphasized the state secretary responsible for civil servants.

The government is aware that there has already been a salary agreement for 2026. Against the background of the budgetary situation and to prevent more drastic measures from being taken, they will nevertheless enter into salary negotiations, Pröll announced: "Because it requires an effort and a contribution from everyone."

Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) is already asking for understanding in advance. He justifies the pursuit of the conversation with "the high inflation and the necessary strict budget execution."

Support from Kraker

Explicit support for the government's approach comes from the President of the Court of Audit, who in a written statement recalls having already proposed a zero wage round for the majority of public employees last year: "The state must save on itself if it demands that from others."

If the federal government now intends to negotiate the already agreed salary increases and apply the brakes on spending, she can only approve of it. It is not fair if public service salaries rise above the inflation rate, while the opposite is being discussed for pensions.

Difficult Without Union

The Public Service Union, which traditionally leads the talks on the employee side, has not yet made any public statements, which is not unusual under the still relatively new chairman Quin. All inquiries from the APA have remained unanswered in recent days. It is not impossible, but would be difficult, for the salary increase already stipulated by law to be reopened in the National Council without the union's consent.

In the ranks of the ÖVP, Romana Deckenbacher, the head of the Christian Unionists' faction in the National Council, is present, and the chairpersons of the two major unions GPA and pro-ge, Barbara Teiber and Reinhold Binder (both SPÖ), would likely find it very difficult to overturn a salary increase agreed at the social partner level against the union's will in the middle of the autumn wage round. Only the NEOS would probably be willing to proceed in such a manner even against the resistance of the employee representation.

Club chairman Yannick Shetty emphasized in a statement on Tuesday that the "civil servant bonus by watering can" was a fatal signal. It fuels the wage-price spiral and burdens the budget. It is good that talks with the civil servants are now starting to proceed more cautiously. Inflation must be pushed down to two percent. This requires a reasonable new regulation of the civil servant bonus in fair negotiations - just like with pensions.

The procedure in the negotiation process is also rather unusual. In normal years, the GÖD requests the start of salary talks, and only then does the government invite. This year, at least publicly, nothing is known of such a request - probably also because the union can refer to the double agreement from the previous year.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.