Facets of the agreement. On Friday 4 November, the Association of Austrian Machinery and Metalware (FMMI), a grouping of employers, and the unions representing industry workers (PRO-GE) and private sector employees (GPA-djp) announced an agreement on a 1.68% salary increase for the 120,000 employees in the sector. Last year, a 1.5% per cent increase was agreed (see article n°9351). Rainer Wimmer, PRO-GE’s president, said: “We’ve reached a good agreement and we are proud to be able introduce a progressive wage increase, which reaches as much as 2%.” Under the agreement, the 2% rise will apply to those at the low end of the pay scale. Meanwhile, salaries for apprentices will go up by 1.75%, with various benefit payments increased by 1%. The ‘free time’ option, through which employees could reduce their working hours rather than receiving an increased salary, has not been extended. However, the FMMI has agreed to include so-called waiting periods (Karenzzeiten) in situations where working hours need to be totalled (eg. Holidays, retirement, bonuses, 13th month pay, etc.) The trade unions see this aspect as a significant political message which, in particular, will help improve the situation for women, who often find themselves penalised in terms of salary, for instance due to parental leave.
uations where working hours need to be totalled (eg. Holidays, retirement, bonuses, 13th month pay, etc.) The trade unions see this aspect as a significant political message which, in particular, will help improve the situation for women, who often find themselves penalised in terms of salary, for instance due to parental leave.
Reward for agreement on flexibility. For the first time in their history, the trade unions commenced negotiations demanding a 3% wage increase. This was rejected by the
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