Officials: Government Seeks Dialogue

The union has been invited to talks for the coming week, even though a value for 2026 was actually agreed upon last year. The GÖD will attend the meeting, although its chairman Eckehard Quin emphasizes that they are not the republic's savings bank. Meanwhile, Court of Audit President Margit Kraker supports a lower agreement. Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) pointed to a looming zero wage round for 2027.

"Talk on Salary Development"

During the double agreement for 2025/2026, the exceptionally difficult budgetary situation under which the current government is struggling was not known to the actual extent. After the National Council election, the minister responsible for civil servants, Werner Kogler (Greens), together with the Ministry of Finance and the union, agreed to conclude 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 accelerated the conclusion. The corresponding compromise was then approved by the National Council with all parties except the NEOS.

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

"Of course" they will attend the meeting, Quin writes on the homepage of the public service union. Equally self-evident, however, is that "the public service is not the republic's savings bank, which can be accessed at will." Willingness to talk should not be confused with weakness. Until then, the GÖD had not commented on the topic at all. Thus, several inquiries from the APA in recent days remained unanswered. The UGÖD (Independent Trade Unionists in the Public Service) already showed a clear rejection on Tuesday. The renewed invitation to negotiations is already a sign of a lack of appreciation. Opening up the salary agreement would mean a massive breach of trust.

Talks could certainly be in the union's interest, Finance Minister Marterbauer said in an interview with the "Standard" (Online). He reinforced the government's invitation by pointing out that a zero wage round for personnel expenses is set in the federal financial framework for 2027. Therefore, there is "a good argument to say: Let's discuss 2026 and 2027 together, let's make the whole thing a little less painful by being a bit more restrained in 2026 and having more leeway available in 2027," said Marterbauer.

Pröll Against Taboos

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. The coalition's poor negotiating position is evident in Pröll's wording in the letter: The government is aware that talks "against the backdrop of the already decided agreement for 2026 represent a particular challenge."

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.

Against the backdrop of the budgetary situation and to prevent more drastic measures from being taken, Pröll announced that despite last year's agreement, they would enter into salary negotiations: "Because it requires an effort and contribution from everyone."

Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) asked for understanding in advance. He justified the pursuit of talks 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, reminded that she had already proposed a zero wage round for the majority of public employees last year, which was heavily criticized at the time by ÖVP club chairman August Wöginger. The faction leader stated back then that Kraker should focus on her tasks and not engage in politics. Now, the President of the Court of Audit says: "The state must save on itself if it demands that from others."

If the federal government now intends to negotiate the already agreed salary increase and apply the spending brake, 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

Reopening the legally established salary increase without the union's consent in the National Council is not impossible, but it would be difficult. 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 revoke 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 take such an approach 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. Therefore, 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 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, no such request is known - probably also because the union can refer to the double agreement from last year.

(APA/Red)

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