Austria: followers of the privatization of the Austrian railway (ÖBB) mobilized by the debate on railroaders’ pension scheme

by the Austrian Audit Authority, massive retirement, encouraged by the ÖBB, brought the annual allowance paid by the State for railroaders’ pensions from 1.2 billion euros up to 2.1 billion euros between 2004 and 2009. The document, which also judges that the ÖBB still employs 8,000 surplus staff (42,000 employees), sparked off severe controversy over the company’s personnel management. Doris Bures, Minister of Transport, Innovation and Technology, announced, on Monday, February 22, an immedia