Green Economy Wants WKÖ Restart

From the perspective of the Green Economy, the "bloated apparatus" of the WKÖ should be reduced, more democratic processes introduced, chamber levies reduced or abolished, functional compensations restructured, and a content-related restart implemented.

"From 10 to 1": Green Economy for a WKÖ Professional Representation

From the perspective of the Green Economy, there is no need for industry committees, i.e., professional groups, in the federal states. A professional representation at the Austrian-wide level of the WKÖ is sufficient. "From 10 to 1: From ten committees, namely nine state chambers and one federal chamber, we create a central committee in the Austrian Economic Chamber." State chambers should only function as advisory and service facilities.

The Greens demand more transparency so that "members actually know what happens with their money," said Jungwirth. Everything discussed in the committees must also be published. The democracy in the chamber is "very, very much in disarray." A "massive reform" of the electoral law is demanded. Every vote should count equally.

Green Economy for Gradual Abolition of Chamber Levy 2

The Green Economy further demands a gradual abolition of Chamber Levy 2 by 2030. In 2018, a chamber reform with the reduction of chamber levies was last announced. In reality, however, chamber contributions and the income of the Economic Chamber have increased, said Jungwirth. Looking towards Germany, one sees that in 2024 the WKÖ collected an average of 2,186 euros per member, while the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) had only 324 euros per member available. "That is quite a stark difference," said Jungwirth. A similar picture exists with the reserves. "The chamber is not a savings club." The reserves should be used as counter-financing in a financing reform, demanded Jungwirth.

The Green Economy demands an appropriate functional compensation. This should also be decided in the public committees, i.e., in the professional group meeting and in the economic parliament. They experience the chamber as a lobby for industry and large corporations and "also very much aligned with the fossil economy," said Jungwirth. A "loud voice" is needed for one-person companies as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. They make up the large part of the WKÖ. The chamber must engage more strongly in removing barriers to the EU internal market.

Urgent Motion of the Green Economy in the Economic Parliament

For the economic parliament next Thursday, the Green Economy has submitted an urgent motion. According to their own statements, all structural reform proposals are also included. For the session, federal spokesperson Jungwirth hopes for the establishment of a "serious working group." When asked, she said she would find it "fair" if the WKÖ employees received the salary increase of 4.2 percent from summer. In recent years, their agreements have always been below average. But in the current debate, it is almost impossible to "discuss this sensibly." With regard to civil servants, she said that "nothing else happened" there. There, the increases were also postponed by half a year, said Jungwirth.

(APA/Red)

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