This Strike is at Vienna's Door

On Thursday, the collective agreement negotiations in the social economy (SWÖ) enter the fourth round, and on the same day, there will be another strike by employees in this sector: The leisure educators of Bildung im Mittelpunkt (BiM) GmbH at the all-day elementary schools in Vienna are protesting against the threat of real wage loss, it was announced on Tuesday. At over 100 schools, childcare will be completely or partially canceled this afternoon.

Collective Agreement Negotiator: "Scandalous"

The employers were "still not even willing" to compensate for inflation in the third round of negotiations at the end of November, emphasized BiM works council chairwoman and collective agreement negotiator Selma Schacht in a statement. On the contrary, the last offer from the employers' side for the 130,000 employees in the Austrian social economy would mean "a massive real wage loss," which is "scandalous."

Schacht referred to the nationwide hourly warning strikes held last week at around 300 locations in private health, social, educational, and care facilities. "Now the leisure educators and BiM employees are also increasing the pressure," it was stated in the announcement.

This is necessary in an industry "that is already underpaid and characterized by precarious and health-endangering working conditions." At the same time, they are also taking to the streets against the "massive cuts by the federal government and the city of Vienna." Because even now, employees of many facilities are facing layoffs, cutbacks, salary losses, and service reductions.

Demonstration in Vienna

The demonstration starts on Thursday at 1 PM at Vienna's Urban-Loritz-Platz and will move through the 7th and 6th districts. A visit to the striking schools and MA 56, as the 100% owner of BiM GmbH, was also announced. The closing event is planned at the Amerlinghaus cultural center.

(APA/Red)

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