Energy Crisis, Inflation, Inflation: The 2022 Economic Year
Immediately after the outbreak of the Ukraine war, it was clear that hardly anything would remain as it was. Energy prices started to rise as early as March. Private individuals as well as large and small commercial enterprises were affected, such as master baker Karl-Heinz Thurnhofer from Berndorf (Flachgau): “I can hardly imagine that this would happen to everyone. If the electricity bill is going to be four times as high now – I don’t know who’s going to pay for it”.
Protective shields were discussed and some were also excited, and an energy price cap was negotiated – for private individuals at first. Governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP): “The topic of electricity price caps must be discussed very seriously. The goal must be to keep life affordable”.
Rising prices and strikes
However, prices not only increased significantly in the energy sector, everything in other areas of life also became more expensive, well above the level we had been used to for years. It was clear that the unions wanted to see this settled in the collective bargaining negotiations. The talks between employers and employees were tough and long.
An absolute rarity was struck in Austria. Even the brewers stop working. Birgit Siller is Chair of the Works Council at Stiegl: “I’ve been with Stiegl for more than 21 years. We have never struck, but now we are very far apart.”
The end of the Mönchsberg garage
In other cases, none of the talks led to anything, the citizens were actually asked: and this year they finally said no to an expansion of the Mönchsberg garage in Salzburg’s old town. Mayor Harald Preuner (ÖVP), a supporter of the garage extension, takes note of the result.
Project S Link
The preparatory work for the underground extension of the local railway across the old town continues – now under the name S-Link. One happily drills and probes while waiting for the federal government’s commitment to pay for the project.
The principle of hope has become widespread this year in many things – also politically, for example with the Greens. Deputy Governor Heinrich Schellhorn had to resign as a result of a full-blown care scandal. Martina Berthold now embodies the principle of hope for the next spring elections.
labor shortage
The principle of hope also rules when it comes to the issue of staff shortages. In the hospital, in the entire health and care sector, this shortage of staff is particularly noticeable. The managing director of the Salzburg state clinics, Paul Sungler, says: “What causes us massive problems is the lack of staff in the retirement homes and care facilities. As a result, our stations are overcrowded with long-distance passengers. We’re having trouble providing emergency care.”
But also in trade, in trade, in industry, there is hardly an industry that does not complain about the fact that no employees can be found this year.
Annual review economy
Energy crisis, inflation, inflation and labor shortage – a turbulent year for the Salzburg economy