Meeting failed

Social workers announce protests across Austria

On Monday evening, the second round of negotiations for employees in the social economy collective agreement failed. The meeting was interrupted after ten hours and the union announced protests such as demonstrations and works meetings.

The social economy includes companies and organizations that provide social services, for example in child and youth welfare facilities, facilities for the disabled and care services. Around 130,000 people work in the sector in Austria. 

The new collective agreement is being negotiated for them again. The union is demanding a salary increase of 6.1 percent, which is too high for the employers. "We are offering inflation for the twelve months in question from the outset," said chief negotiator Yvonne Hochsteiner. It is not yet clear whether the funding bodies will go along with this. Inflation for the period from November 2023 to October 2024 is 3.53 percent.

GPA: appreciation is lacking
"We are willing to talk in certain areas, but everything must remain within a realistic framework," said Hochsteiner. GPA negotiator Eva Scherz replied that a mere inflation compensation does not show the appreciation that employees deserve. In order to make the sector more attractive, both a higher salary and better working conditions were needed.

We are willing to talk in certain areas, but everything must remain within a realistic framework.

Yvonne Hochsteiner, Verhandlerin der Dienstgeber

The union has now announced works meetings throughout Austria, a works council conference in Styria and a demonstration in Vienna. A rally is also planned in Linz. On November 22, employees will interrupt their work for six minutes.

The next round of negotiations will take place on November 25. The new collective agreement will apply from January 1, 2025.