But no Advent strikes: Union unites with trade to seven percent
Collective bargaining in trade came to a positive conclusion last night. Commercial employees will receive 7.3 percent more from January 1st. Low wages will be increased by up to 8.67 percent. Apprentices can even expect an increase of 9.6 percent.
SALZBURG. After more than a month of tough negotiations, an agreement has now also been reached on the trade. The trade union GPA Salzburg is very satisfied with the result. With the agreement, the feared warning strikes are now off the table. The Chamber of Commerce and Trade Association are less enthusiastic about the outcome of the negotiations.
tough negotiations
Tough collective bargaining negotiations have been going on in retail since October 19. The union demands an increase of 8.5 percent and a minimum amount of 200 euros. The employee representatives also stressed that one-off payments would not be accepted. The employers offered over four rounds of negotiations for four percent and a one-off payment of 3.5 percent. For weeks no agreement could be reached. Demonstrations then took place in Salzburg in mid-November. More about this here:
Handel takes to the streets in Salzburg for more wages
threat of strike
After the fourth round did not bring an agreement either, the union issued an ultimatum. If there is no compromise on the part of the entrepreneurs during the negotiations on Tuesday, November 29th, then one-hour warning strikes will be initiated on the coming second weekend in Advent. More information in this article:
Union threatens trade strikes
The agreement
Now the union and the company have come to an agreement. As the Salzburg GPA trade union proudly stated, from January there will be an average of 7.3 percent more for retail employees. Low gains are boosted by up to 8.67 percent. Apprentices receive an increase of 9.6 percent. The minimum amount is 145 euros. 35,000 retail workers in Salzburg benefit from the result.
Michael Hofer, trade secretary of the trade union GPA Salzburg is pleased: “Thanks to the strike decisions in 30 Salzburg trade companies and over 300 in Austria, we were able to increase the union pressure. This was the only way that the last offer from employers could be increased from 4% and non-sustainable one-off payments to up to 8.67% – a giant leap since the last round of negotiations!”
The union also thanks the traps.
“A huge thank you goes to the numerous cases that were so closely behind us at the works meetings with strike decisions. It wouldn’t have been possible without them and we proved that commercial workers are very much ready for a labor dispute!”
Michael Hofer, Commercial Secretary GPA Salzburg
Handel and WKO little desired
The trade association and the Austrian Chamber of Commerce seem to be a little less happy with the result. The trade association emphasizes that the upper limit has been reached with the “generous” deal. The trading companies will “lack the substance” of the money. A number of benefits are offered to both employees and companies.
More about this here:
Agreement on trade – strike averted
More on the current KV negotiations:
Strike canceled – apprentices earn more
Train strike on Monday throughout Austria