KV Negotiations in the Social Economy: Union Against Agreement Below Inflation
Both sides emphasized the difficult economic situation in advance. For the employee side, a conclusion below the inflation rate is unimaginable, as chief negotiator Eva Scherz from the Union of Private Employees (GPA) told the APA. From the employer side, it was said: "Our leeway is very limited this year."
Last year, the collective bargaining negotiations were concluded with an increase of four percent. Both sides did not want to reveal detailed demands in advance, referring to the handover date on October 1st. "The expectation for our area is that the professional work that is done every day is also honored by the employers," said Scherz.
"Not Comparable" with Metalworker Agreements
When asked about the low wage agreements of the metalworkers below the inflation rate (actual wages and salaries +1.41 percent, minimum wages +2 percent), Scherz emphasized that this could not be an example: "We are not comparable to the metal industry, which operates export-oriented. We do not run out of work, we do not have too many workers in our area, but too few workers." And it is also a growing area, she emphasized. "We cannot imagine agreements below the inflation rate."
In areas such as care, disability work, and child education and care, many more colleagues are needed. The Corona pandemic still has an impact on the industry: On one hand, there is still a shortage of personnel due to departures, on the other hand, there are already noticeable absences due to illness again: Triggered by the current Covid wave, there are already numerous sick leaves again. Apart from the increases, working conditions are also an important point - for example, regarding part-time work. Improvements are needed here, but the detailed demands will only be made later.
Employers Point to Cost-Cutting Pressure
On the employer side, the Social Economy Austria, a spokesperson pointed to the difficult economic situation: They are starting in a situation that has never existed since the collective agreement was established, referring to the "pressure to cut costs from the public sector in all areas" - at the federal, state, and municipal levels, which has a strong impact on the sector.
For example, in the disability sector, there have been budget cuts of up to 50 percent in the federal budget, and individual projects at the employment service are being cut by up to 30 percent. There are also significant cuts in projects of the Ministry of Social Affairs service, she provided another example.
Employers Demand More Information from Politics
"Our problem is also that we know that cuts will come - we also assume that this will affect not only 2026 but also 2027. But we have little clear information from the political side," the spokesperson demanded more transparency from both the federal and state governments.
At the same time, the spokesperson for the employer side emphasized that they have a responsibility not only towards the employees and staff but also to conclude the collective agreement "in such a way that we do not endanger the care of the clients" - meaning: "Not too high and not too low." She also referred to the agreements of previous years: Despite high inflation, they were always concluded above the inflation rate. "With this, we have already created attractive working conditions."
After the exchange of mutual demands on October 1, the first round of negotiations is scheduled for October 21.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.