Trade unionist Binder

What Austria needs instead of a death song

Last year, Reinhold Binder was at the forefront of the "toughest labor dispute in 60 years", as he puts it. Many companies are now under pressure to cut costs.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Markus Wenzel, www.picturedesk.com)

Work was stopped for hours, and there were even protest marches in addition to the strikes! Reinhold Binder was the chief negotiator for the metalworkers last year. What does he think about the success of the negotiations today? A conversation about high wage settlements as a reason for savings, the consequences of inflation, fears and the future. 

Flags and signs as well as symbols with an outstretched index finger were held aloft, Bengal fires were lit and there were roaring whistles. A banner with the words "We are on strike!" was also part of the protest march by around 1000 Engel employees in Schwertberg, where work was stopped for eight hours that day.