WKÖ Salary Increase Halved After Criticism

While during the day there was talk of a halving to 2.1 percent, this was put into perspective in the evening. In fact, there will be no increase in the first half of the year, but a 4.2 percent increase in the second half. This means that the starting value for the following year is significantly higher than it would have been at 2.1 percent for the entire year 2026.

Chamber of Commerce President Harald Mahrer confirmed in "Kurier" and "Kronen Zeitung" that a corresponding mode had been chosen. A very similar regulation was agreed upon by the government and the civil servants' union a few weeks ago.

Mahrer with understanding for the commotion over WKÖ salary increase

"In difficult nationwide situations, the Chamber also needs to send a signal," Mahrer described the reduction in the Ö1 "Mittagsjournal". In view of the skewed optics, he has now "spoken a word of power," said Mahrer.

"Calculating correctly does not always mean acting correctly," Mahrer said about the originally planned adjustments above inflation. He expressed understanding for the commotion, but now it is important to "assess the result." With the halving both in the WKÖ and in the regional organizations, the Chamber of Commerce is now fulfilling its responsibility. "Everyone must contribute," said Mahrer.

WKÖ salary increase led to call for boycott

Previously, the debate threatened to escalate, as industrialist Stephan Zöchling called for a boycott or suspension of contributions from companies. "Perhaps it is time for the Chamber to finally feel what the rest of the country has long heard: the warning shot," he wrote in a statement.

The 4.2 percent salary increase, which would have been above inflation, caused outrage, especially given the frequent calls for wage restraint by economic chambers in collective agreement negotiations, which also stirred reactions in politics. The chamber had "apparently lost all sense of proportion," it was said that they "preach water and drink wine," according to the Social Democrats, who were joined in their criticism by the FPÖ, NEOS, and the Greens. Only the vida union made a rare commendation of the chamber - likely with an eye on the collective agreement negotiations in trade starting on Thursday.

Mahrer wants to stick to formula for future for WKÖ

The Economic Chamber argued that the increases were delayed and strongly oriented towards the collective agreement conclusions of companies last year, "to best reflect the realities of member companies." Furthermore, the annual salary increases for WKÖ employees have been significantly lower in long-term comparison than in the private sector or public service. In this sense, Mahrer also wants to stick to the salary calculation formula in the chamber: "Why should it be suspended, (...) when the salary adjustments have always been below trade, public service, and metalworkers," Mahrer said on ORF radio. This year, they find themselves in a particularly difficult economic situation that requires intervention.

The matter is not yet settled for the NEOS: Following the announcement of the halving, they promptly demanded the dissolution of the "oversized reserves" to help entrepreneurs, as well as the abolition of the Chamber Levy 2, as stated in a press release.

Different calculation formulas in AK and LKÖ

The salary adjustments in the Chamber of Labor and the Chamber of Agriculture follow different rules than in the Economic Chamber. Employees of the Chambers of Labor receive between 2.7 percent (old employment contracts) and 2.9 percent (new employment contracts), with most employees already having new employment contracts. The rolling inflation, this year in April, serves as the basis for salary negotiations between the works councils and the presidencies of the nine state labor chambers. There are no overpayments in the AK, uniform "scheme salaries" apply.

It is different again in the Chamber of Agriculture: At the federal level and in most federal states, the conclusions of the public service are adopted 1:1. In individual state chambers, this has also been different in recent years - in these cases, however, these have always been deviations downwards, according to the LKÖ.

(APA/Red)

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