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Strike Threat in Austria Brings National Electric Accord

22 February, 2012

The threat of strikes across Austria’s electric energy sector in mid-February brought a national labour agreement to 21,000 workers. ICEM affiliate PRO-GE and GPA-djp, the Salaried Employees, Print, Journalism, Paper Union reached accord on 12 February after the third round of bargaining last week failed.

In keeping with a decision made in worksite meetings after the second round of talks failed, late in January, the two unions got strike endorsement from the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions (ÖGB) and were to start manifestations today, with warning strikes commencing tomorrow.

PRO-GE’s Manfred Anderle

Instead, the employers’ association moved a previous 3.6% wage offer to over 4%, with the minimum level of wages in the utility sector lifted to 4.2%. Higher-level wages will be increased by 3.8%, while those of apprentices will be hiked by 4.2%.

The two unions took the stalemate in 2012 wage negotiations to union memberships at the shop-floor level because employers were refusing to come close to wage level increases reached in Austria’s metal sector last October, or to account for a 2011 inflation rate of 3.2% that continues to rise. The unions also cited rising company earnings as reason why electric generating and distribution companies could pay what was achieved in the nation’s metal sector.

In a statement issued yesterday, PRO-GE’s Manfred Anderle and GPA-djp’s Karl Proyer jointly said: “Our great thanks go to all employees and to the shop stewards, who made this possible through their solidarity and readiness for action.”