Reactions to the Three-Year Conclusion in Civil Servant Health Insurance

Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer (SPÖ) pointed out that the regulation is designed innovatively. Lower incomes would fare better through the fixed amounts. His thanks also went to the unions. Yesterday, it was once again demonstrated that the Austrian model of consensus and balance of interests proves its worth.

Reactions to the Three-Year Conclusion

Meinl-Reisinger said that maintaining the originally agreed conclusion would not have been a good sign for those who had just lost their jobs or did not expect such strong wage increases. Additionally, the more moderate adjustment helps to break out of the price-wage spiral in which people have been trapped for far too long.

The Chairman of the Union of Public Service (GÖD), Eckehard Quin, addressed his members in a video message. He argued that the salaries would be adjusted by 3.3 percent next year (albeit only from mid-year), which is certainly one of the highest conclusions in the fall and strengthens purchasing power accordingly. It is "wrong" that the salary adjustment averages 1.5 percent annually, as the government had announced. By 2028, salaries would increase by an average of 5.4 percent, Quin emphasized.

The freedom-oriented unionists are not at all in agreement. AUF leader Werner Herbert called the conclusion "extremely unsatisfactory" in response to an APA inquiry. Even if the 3.3 percent for the coming year had been taken and then followed by two zero-wage rounds, colleagues would have fared better. The GÖD has once again proven its "incompetence." Herbert therefore invited employees to leave the Union of Public Service and join the freedom-oriented unionists.

The Independent Trade Unionists in the GÖD also expressed disappointment. There will be no compensation for the average inflation for four consecutive years, which will inevitably have a dramatic impact on the period after 2029. The public service is therefore expected to significantly support the budgets of the coming decades.

Gradual Salary Increases

The salary agreement is as follows: Instead of starting at the beginning of 2026, salaries will now increase by 3.3 percent from July - this is the already legally agreed value. The next adjustment will occur in August 2027, averaging one percent. This will be implemented through fixed amounts. Up to 3,010 euros, there will be 58 euros, in the next tier up to 6,163 euros, about 40 euros, and above that, just under 21 euros.

FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl described the salary agreement as a "scandalous betrayal of the key workers in the public service" in a statement. The fact that those professional groups, who have had to "bear the brunt of the systemic parties' serious mistakes with hard work" for years, are now being fobbed off with a massive real wage loss, is, for example, a mockery of the police officers, teachers, and armed forces employees.

The final adjustment will take place in September 2028, again averaging one percent. This time, up to 3,068 euros, it will be about 59 euros, in the tier up to 4,311 euros, it will be 45 euros, up to 6,203 euros, it will be 33 euros. The fixed amount for salaries above that is 21 euros.

(APA/Red.)

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