Union annoyed

Civil servants’ collective agreement: difficult negotiations begin

The negotiations on the employers' side are being led by Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler and Finance Minister Magnus Brunner.

(Bild: TOBIAS STEINMAURER)

The collective bargaining negotiations for the public sector began on Monday under a bad star. On the one hand, the economic outlook is poor, on the other, the government no longer has a parliamentary majority and the demand for a zero wage round is on the table. The trade union has already decided to take industrial action.

The employee representatives are entering the negotiations in a rather angry mood. Not only because a zero wage round is being discussed. Politicians have made them wait 13 weeks (!) before starting the collective bargaining talks. First and foremost, the National Council elections got in the way and now "a civil servant minister (Werner Kogler, note) who doesn't seem to be playing along", says Christian Meidlinger from the municipal employees' union to "Krone". "This is not a respectful attitude towards the employees."

A major topic of discussion during the first round of negotiations was an interview in the "Krone" with Court of Audit President Margit Kraker, in which she calls for a zero wage round for civil servants. Both politicians and the trade union were irritated by this. Kraker should focus on her tasks and not on politics, reacted August Wöginger, managing chairman of the ÖVP, rather sharply. "She must not be aware that the Court of Audit is a supervisory body of parliament and not a political body."

"The level of salary adjustments in the public sector is decided by politicians, not the Court of Audit," said Wöginger. "It is not very helpful when Kraker pours oil on the fire. Careless interjections by ACA President Kraker do not get us anywhere." Civil Service Minister Kogler was also not enthusiastic about a zero wage round.

Margit Kraker, President of the Court of Audit

(Bild: Reinhard Holl)

Eckehard Quin, Chairman of the Public Service Union (GÖD), insists that purchasing power should be secured in the long term. In the first round, the underlying economic data was put beyond dispute. Inflation is assumed to be 3.8 percent, while economic growth is assumed to be down 0.6 percent. From now on, things will continue in a small round. Time is pressing, as resolutions need to be passed in the National Council and the provincial parliaments by January 1.

GÖD Chairman Eckehard Quin

(Bild: TOBIAS STEINMAURER)

In addition to Kogler, Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) also negotiated on Monday. It is questionable whether he will conclude them. This is because he is moving to the EU Commission in Brussels in around two weeks' time. Another difficulty in the talks is the lack of a government majority in the National Council. A third partner would be needed to decide on the salaries of civil servants, as Kogler also pointed out. It would be logical for the SPÖ, whose negotiators also play an important role in the talks on the civil servants' side, to agree. However, the government negotiations must also be taken into account, as the Neos will probably put the brakes on civil servants' salaries in view of the forthcoming austerity package.

Large demonstration planned for November 26
Whatever the outcome of the talks, there will be the first major civil servant demonstration in eleven years next week. Staff and works meetings were already held today, Monday, to provide information about the situation and the next steps. A major demonstration is planned for November 26 in Vienna, exactly on the day before the start of the staff representation elections.

The civil servant pay deal is a major one. Around 230,000 federal civil servants and state teachers are directly affected. Indirectly, 324,000 state and municipal employees are also affected. However, they do not have to adopt the federal agreement. The final decision is made by the respective local authority.