Vida union: Clear mandate from the employees to reduce the income gap to comparable KVs in the industry – May 2nd works council conference
Vienna (OTS) – “Only slight cosmetic corrections but no substantial improvements in working hours and allowances in the employers’ current offer,” says Harald Steer, head of negotiations for the vida union in the collective bargaining negotiations for employees in Austria’s private hospitals, after yesterday’s 5th round of negotiations was also unsuccessful was ended. The aim of the union is to reduce the existing gaps in income and working conditions in the negotiations compared to the better-paid collective agreements in other Austrian hospital areas. “We are at the bottom of the league in Austria and don’t see why our work should be worth less. We have declared ourselves willing to compromise and would have made compromises on many points if there had been substantial movement. “Nevertheless, employers were not prepared to accept a KV qualification,” emphasizes Steer.
“Even with a currently offered increase in salaries for employees in private hospitals of 9.15 percent on the KV but not on the actual salaries, this gap would only be marginally reduced. The industry average certainly cannot be achieved in this way,” criticizes the vida trade unionist, noting that better demands for more free time and higher allowances for night and Sunday work are anchored in the comparable collective agreements.
To illustrate this, Steer uses the example of a qualified health and nursing assistant in her 9th year of service. For example, in a religious hospital she earns 3,786.19 euros gross per month including a fixed allowance and without overpayment. At private hospitals, however, even after an increase of 9.15 percent, she would only earn 3,317.16 euros. This results in an income gap of almost 500 euros.
In the period before the last round of negotiations, works meetings were held to inform employees about the status of the negotiations and the employers’ offer. “We have an obligation to our union members and from the works meetings we received a clear mandate from the employees to continue pursuing the goal of moving closer to comparable collective agreements in the industry,” affirms Steer. According to Steer, on May 2, 2024, a works council conference in Vienna will discuss how to proceed and any necessary trade union measures.
Questions & Contact:
Hansjörg Miethling
Mobil: +43 664 6145 733
E-Mail: hansjoerg.miethling@vida.at
www.vida.at
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