No Result in Collective Bargaining Negotiations in the Chemical and Electrical Industry
Both respective trade associations spoke of constructive discussions, but specific wage and salary demands or offers were not disclosed. The negotiations will continue on April 23 for the chemical industry and on April 30 for the electrical industry.
"No longer competitive"
The inflation rate relevant for the negotiations in the electrical industry is 2.75 percent, according to the unions PRO-GE and GPA. On Tuesday, the unions made it clear that there should not be a zero wage round. If no agreement is reached in the third round of negotiations, employee representatives plan to convene a nationwide conference of works council members to decide on the further course of action, it was stated in a release on Wednesday.
The Association of the Electrical and Electronics Industry (FEEI) pointed to the high costs of labor in Austria. "We are no longer competitive. The increased personnel costs can often no longer be passed on to customers," said FEEI Chairman Wolfgang Hesoun according to the release.
The chemical industry is also struggling with the economic environment. High energy and personnel costs are putting a heavy burden on companies. "Against this background, what is needed now is prudence and responsibility in the collective bargaining negotiations," said Ernst Gruber, chief negotiator of the Association of the Chemical Industry of Austria (FCIO).
Not just an increase in collective and actual wages
The bargaining is not only about raising collective and actual wages, but also about framework conditions, such as vacation days or overtime pay. For the electrical industry, the unions are demanding that the allowance for the second shift be increased to 1.50 euros per hour and for the third shift to five euros per hour.
Once again, the issue of easier access to the sixth week of vacation is being discussed. There is also talk about continuing the leisure option, which expires after ten years with the collective agreement in 2025. This option allows employees to convert the actual increase into permanently more paid leisure time through individual agreements.
Last year, for the approximately 60,000 employees in the electrical and electronics industry, a social partner agreement was reached after three rounds of negotiations: collective wages and salaries increased by 7.5 percent, and actual incomes by 6.8 percent. It was tough going in the chemical industry, where the social partners needed seven rounds to reach an agreement. Incomes increased by 6.33 percent, but by a maximum of 316.50 euros per month.
(APA/Red)
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