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Today, the fall wage round begins with metalworkers. The crisis in the crown is likely to complicate discussions between employers and worker representatives.
Collective bargaining in the metal tech industry with 127,500 employees is overshadowed by the economic effects of the corona pandemic. The Fachverband Metalltechnische Industrie (FMTI) wanted to postpone the talks until 2021, but the union insists on a quick conclusion with “sustainable wage and salary increases.”
Industry very shaken
At 11 in the morning, the traditional transfer of claims from trade unionists to employer representatives in the Chamber of Commerce is on the agenda. Then the first round of negotiations takes place.
“Due to the economic crisis, the main concern this year is to maintain employment. However, for a collective agreement to be concluded quickly, sustained increases in wages and salaries are necessary to ensure the purchasing power of people,” demanded the two chief negotiators, Rainer Wimmer (Pro-Ge). and Karl Dürtscher (GPA-djp).
“The zero salary round is out of the question”
“A zero wage round is out of the question. In the current situation that would be the worst for economic development,” workers’ representatives said. 1,200 Austrian companies are affected. “Fair wage and salary increases are the best means of ensuring purchasing power and preventing a general economic spiral.”
Last October, both parties agreed in the fifth round of negotiations on an average salary increase of 2.7 percent. Corona’s part-time work has slowed crisis-related job cuts in the metals technology industry, but in May employment had already fallen 4.1 percent.
