Social Economy Collective Agreement: Protest in Vienna Before Next Round of Negotiations

Before the previously unsuccessful collective agreement negotiations in the social economy continue on Thursday, the employee side has increased the pressure: Several thousand of the approximately 130,000 employees in the private health, social, and care sector protested on Wednesday afternoon in downtown Vienna. "We are ready to strike," was chanted. The union is demanding a wage increase of four percent, while the employer side has so far offered 2.5 over two years.

Employers Offer 2.5 Percent - Union Wants More

"Not to be taken seriously," said GPA chief negotiator Eva Scherz. The negotiations were interrupted on October 13 in the second round by the Union of Private Employees and the service union vida. The employer side's offer of a 2.5 percent wage and salary increase over two years corresponds to only a 1.25 percent increase per year, it was said. This is "insufficient and not a basis for further negotiations today," Scherz explained at the time, announcing company meetings, precautionary strike resolutions, and rallies. In addition to a higher wage increase, they are demanding an improvement in working conditions, especially in part-time work.

Demo Started at the Vienna Parliament

The demonstration march, consisting of employees from, among others, the Samaritan Association, addiction support, or the neunerhaus, culminated in a GPA rally at the Human Rights Square after moving from the Parliament to the Town Hall. Federal Managing Director Mario Ferrari called the offer made by the employer side "absolutely unacceptable." "Every year we have to fight for our salary increase, and we will," he rallied the approximately 2,500 people for the upcoming round of negotiations.

Numerous works council members also previously agreed. Isabel Tanzer from addiction support called an offer below inflation "nothing but mockery," Clemens Fessler from the disability sector stated that employees in social services were "applauded during the Covid pandemic, and today they are being slapped down."

First Strike Resolutions Passed

During an interim rally at the Vienna City Hall, employees of "Education in Focus" voted on their willingness to strike. Specific measures will only be decided after tomorrow's round of negotiations, but regardless of the outcome, they expressed their readiness to conduct a warning strike before the budget decision in the Vienna City Council in mid-December. It was repeatedly emphasized that there are strike resolutions in many other companies as well.

The Vienna city government, and especially Mayor Michael Ludwig, received a lot of criticism during the demonstration. While there is money for high political salaries and a new hall in St. Marx, those who are already not well paid have to tighten their belts, according to the criticism.

The negotiations will continue on Thursday morning at the ÖGB headquarters. However, one should not expect a conclusion then.

(APA/Red)

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