Spring Collective Bargaining Negotiations: Unions Against Zero Wage Rounds

Before the continuation of the spring collective agreement negotiations, the unions reiterated: "We will certainly not negotiate a zero wage round." They expect concrete offers from employers for wage and salary increases from May 1st. "We want to talk straight, because the employees expect swift negotiations and collective agreement conclusions," emphasized the two chief negotiators for the electrical and electronics industry, Reinhold Binder (PRO-GE) and Karl Dürtscher (GPA).

Spring Collective Agreement Negotiations: Unions Warn of Income Losses Due to Zero Wage Round

A zero wage round would not stimulate the economy, but rather lead to even greater consumer restraint and significant income losses for employees, warn the employee representatives. One day after the electrical and chemical industries, the collective agreement negotiations for the paper industry will continue on Thursday. Last year, after three rounds of negotiations, there was an agreement between the social partners for the approximately 60,000 employees in the electrical and electronics industry: collective agreement wages and salaries increased by 7.5 percent, actual incomes by 6.8 percent. The new collectively agreed minimum wage was 2,406 euros gross/month.

Negotiations were tough in the chemical industry, where the social partners needed a total of seven rounds to reach an agreement. Wages and salaries increased by 6.33 percent, but by a maximum of 316.50 euros. In the paper and cardboard industry, an agreement was reached last year after four rounds of negotiations. For the approximately 8,000 employees, collective agreement wages and salaries increased retroactively from May 1, 2024, by 7 percent, actual wages and salaries by 6.6 percent. Additionally, an inflation premium of 400 euros was agreed upon.

Current Collective Agreement Conclusions at Around 3 Percent

While the major industrial associations continue to haggle over a conclusion on Wednesday and Thursday, numerous smaller sectors have already reached their collective agreement conclusion in recent weeks. For employees of estates in Eastern Austria, there is an increase of 3 percent. The minimum salary is thus 1,897 euros gross. Those training to become professional hunters receive 1,251 euros in the first year of apprenticeship. The collective agreement is valid from May 1st.

In the banking sector, there is a salary increase of 3 percent, and pension fund contributions are increased by 0.15 percent on all basic contributions. The same applies to commercial credit cooperatives and credit card companies. In driving schools, the salary increase is also 3 percent.

Employers point out in the current wage rounds that the collectively agreed minimum wage increased more than inflation last year. The strongest increase was 9.4 percent for public employees, according to Statistics Austria at the beginning of this year. The increase for salaried employees was 8.4 percent, and for workers, it was 8.3 percent.

(APA/Red)

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