Austria - Higher pay for the social economy - November 30, 2024

After three rounds of negotiations, a collective agreement has been reached for the social economy: the actual and minimum salaries of the approximately 130,000 employees in the sector will increase by 4%, as announced by the unions GPA and Vida and the Austrian Social Economy (SWÖ). Trade unions have successfully negotiated a significant wage agreement covering workers in public administration, municipalities, and related services. This agreement follows intense pressure on the government, which initially was reluctant to engage in wage negotiations for 2025. The unions had planned a demonstration in Vienna to advocate for fair compensation; however, the agreement was reached at the last moment. The agreement ensures an average wage increase of 3.5%, with a minimum raise of € 82.4 and a maximum of € 437.8, effective from 1 January 2025. Allowances and bonuses will also rise by 3.5%. Additionally, for 2026, wages, allowances, and bonuses will be adjusted for inflation plus 0.3%, safeguarding workers’ purchasing power. 

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For more information, please contact Paul de Beer or Oana Ciuca, De Burcht (Scientific Bureau for the Dutch Trade Union Movement) p.t.debeer@uva.nl or the Head of communications at the ETUI, Mehmet Koksal mkoksal@etui.org. For previous full issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit https://www.etui.org/Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter or consult the archive with all articles in our database at www.cbnarchive.eu.
You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org.