Conversations About Pensions and Civil Servants Continue

In the press foyer after the Council of Ministers, the government members of the three-party coalition referred to the planned talks with senior citizens' organizations and the civil servants' union.

Government Appeals to Social Partners

Chancellery Minister Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) reminded that we are in fiscally challenging times. Under these circumstances, the negotiations must take place. Regarding the civil servants, SPÖ parliamentary group leader Philip Kucher stated that they can only appeal to create solutions at the social partner level. NEOS parliamentary group leader Yannick Shetty saw last year's NEOS criticism of a settlement above inflation for 2026 confirmed: "We were right." NEOS also advocates adjusting pensions below the inflation rate: "In a time when inflation is too high, the budget is bursting at the seams, everyone must contribute." Kucher reiterated his party's demand that at least low and medium pensions should be compensated for inflation.

GÖD Chief Signals Willingness to Negotiate on Civil Servants

The head of the Public Service Union (GÖD), Eckehard Quin, signals a willingness to compromise on salary increases. A unilateral termination of the civil servants' settlement already legally agreed for 2026 would be unacceptable to him, but he also stated in a "flash interview" for his home broadcaster "Radio GÖD": "Of course, it is possible to find other solutions that may bring different advantages for both sides." The situation is as follows. In last year's salary negotiations, a double settlement was agreed upon. The GÖD accepted that for 2025, adjustments were made 0.3 percent below inflation and received the legal assurance that this would be compensated with the settlement for 2026.

Compromise in Sight

In view of the difficult budgetary situation, the government is now pushing to mitigate this decision. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) recently indicated the direction it could take. Since a zero-wage round is planned for 2027, it could be deviated from if the settlement for the coming year turns out to be lower. This is precisely what Quin might have hinted at in the interview. Formally, he admitted, the coalition could of course unilaterally change the salary regulation through a legislative decision. However, if they did, the social partnership in Austria and thus the entire republic would have a massive problem. The GÖD chief is therefore convinced that it will not come to that: "I rule out that this settlement can be unilaterally dissolved." The first round of talks with the government is scheduled for next Tuesday.

(APA/Red)

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