Are there now strikes in trade, metal and social professions?

2023-11-24 11:02:00

Today, in front of striking employees at the EVVA factory in Vienna, the ÖGB boss reaffirmed the solidarity of all unions for the industrial action by employees in the metal industry.

The company of the safety technology manufacturer EVVA was chosen as a high-profile location for the protest because its boss Stefan Ehrlich-Adám, KV chief negotiator, is the employer of the Metal Technology Industry Association (FMTI) with its 135,000 employees. A total of more than 100,000 employees in the metal industry recently took part directly in the strikes because of the outstanding agreement on the 2024 collective agreement (valid from November 2023), the unions told the APA yesterday.

The demand of the employee representatives from PRO-GE and GPA for a 10.6 percent increase in gross wages and salaries is on the table; the haggling over the KV 2024 started on September 25th with the desire for an increase of 11.6 percent. According to their own statements, employers have recently offered an average wage increase of 8.2 percent and up to 12 percent for the lower employment groups – although in some cases with one-off payments that the unions have so far rejected. However, the industry would be willing to make improvements if there were deductions in the framework law, for example for overtime.

Negotiations will continue in the eighth round next Thursday at the Chamber of Commerce in Vienna. Retail and social professions are also currently haggling over KV 2024. The civil servants reached an agreement the day before yesterday; they will receive an average of 9.15 percent more. Before the start of the KV round for the metal industry, which traditionally heralds the autumn wage round, there was an agreement on the pension increase for 2024, which is 9.7 percent.

Serve next year?

Wifo boss Gabriel Felbermayr said yesterday about the metal workers’ wage round that if the deal this year stays “a little below the rolling inflation” of 9.6 percent, then this could be “obligatory” in 2024. Converting part of the wage increase into a reduction in working hours or more vacation is also likely to be an issue at the negotiating table. “But Wifo doesn’t say it accepts real wage losses,” said the economic researcher.

A day earlier, the chief negotiator of the Metal Technology Industry Association, EVVA boss Ehrlich-Adám, said about the ongoing strikes: “We are countering the strikes with all the means at our disposal. Any form of inadmissible obstruction or blockage will be reported. It is also clear that the strikers will not receive any wages during the work stoppage; the unions are responsible for that.” There will also be no money from employers for the work stoppages that have already taken place. In any case, the strikers would have lost wages. “The unions also have to actively communicate this so that the employees don’t get a nasty surprise when the payroll comes at the end of the month,” emphasized Ehrlich-Adám.

Negotiations are also currently underway about the KV for the 130,000 employees in the private care, health and social sectors. The GPA and vida unions are demanding an increase of 15 percent, but at least 400 euros. Salaries and wages are also important for the more than 430,000 commercial employees. The employers recently offered a plus five percent and a one-off payment of 800 euros. The GPA made a counteroffer of 9.5 percent and a fixed amount of 40 euros.