Austrian railway workers begin collective bargaining amid high inflation pressures

On Monday afternoon, collective bargaining opens for employees of Austria's railway companies, encompassing 98 firms. The vida union, led by Roman Hebenstreit, is seeking an inflation-linked allowance together with a real-wage uplift, arguing that workers deserve fair pay for their contributions. The union indicated that upcoming autumn negotiations will also address retail, bus, truck and security workers, expanding the wage-talk agenda beyond rail.

Metalworkers will not participate this time, as a two-year crisis settlement was concluded with their social partners last year. The bargaining baseline relies on the rolling inflation measured over the previous twelve months. Hebenstreit criticized past crisis settlements for failing to lower food costs while reducing workers' purchasing power.