After several bargaining rounds between the biggest metal organization, the Association Machinery & Metalware Industry FMMI, and the DPA-dip trade union and IndustriALL Global Union affiliate PRO-GE, with little or no results, unions announced a strike for the end of October. It was called off at the last minute when an agreement was reached, covering 120,000 workers of the total 180,000 workers in the metal sector. Depending on the category, wages will increase by between 2.6 and 3.2 percent.
The question of flexible working time, which has been under discussion for the last two years, remains unresolved. Negotiations on this are expected to commence when all bargaining rounds are concluded.
IndustriALL Global Union Assistant General Secretary Monika Kemperle says:
The raise in wages between 2.6 and 3.2 per cent in the metal and mechanical engineering industry in Austria was only achievable because works councils and members in this sector were ready to stand up for their collective bargaining agreement. Our colleagues in Austria prepared the strike; their readiness to fight led to this breakthrough and hence this success."