Social Economy Collective Agreement: Warning Strikes Planned for Next Week

The third round of collective bargaining negotiations for the approximately 130,000 employees in the social economy ended on Friday night without an agreement. The offer presented by the employers of an average of 1.71 percent on collective agreement salaries and 1.3 percent on actual salaries for 2026, as well as 1.65 percent on collective agreement and actual salaries for 2027, is "insufficient," the unions GPA and vida stated in a release. Warning strikes are planned.

What Are the Employers Offering?

Specifically, according to the unions, the employers' offer for employees in the private health, social, and care sector includes the following points: In 2026, salaries for all with a collective agreement gross income under 2,400 euros should increase by 2.8 percent, for all with a collective agreement gross income under 3,000 euros by 1.8 percent, for all with a collective agreement gross income under 3,500 euros by 1.75 percent, and for all with a higher collective agreement gross income by 1.3 percent (full-time each). Actual salaries should increase by 1.3 percent in 2026, allowances and bonuses by 1.65 percent, and apprentice incomes by 2.8 percent. In 2027, all collective agreement and actual salaries should increase by 1.65 percent.

"Our colleagues are ready to fight for a fair conclusion - even with warning strikes," said GPA negotiator Eva Scherz according to the statement. "Ensuring financing is the task of the employers. It cannot be that more budget surplus is planned for toilet paper than for the employees." The warning strikes are planned between December 2 and 4, the release further stated. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for December 11.

Criticism of the Employers' Offer

vida negotiator Michaela Guglberger pointed to the "enormous demographic challenges." The offer presented by the employers attracts "no one to the training and also keeps no one in the profession." "Noticeable salary increases and better working conditions" are needed, demanded Guglberger.

There was initially no statement from the employers' side. Employers' chief negotiator Yvonne Hochsteiner from "Social Economy Austria - Association of Austrian Social and Health Enterprises" (SWÖ) had once again made it clear before the start of negotiations on Thursday to the APA that the situation is "extremely difficult" and the social infrastructure is "under pressure." It is about "maintaining the existing" in view of the cuts in the social sector.

(APA/Red)

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