Constructive talks on Monday after warning strikes 14 days ago.

In the collective agreement negotiations with the railway workers, things remain exciting. In the rail sector, after a warning strike 14 days ago and talks in the previous week and at the beginning of the week on Tuesday morning, further negotiations are pending. There should be a two-year collective agreement with several increases. Both sides are basically optimistic about the talks. Most recently, the union’s demands were significantly higher than the employer’s offer.

“We did a lot of calculations last week,” the employer said. But the employee representatives have also recalculated their positions, according to negotiating circles. However, there must be a much better offer.

The Vida union recently called for a wage increase of the KV and actual wages by 400 euros. This corresponds to an average increase of 12 percent. The employer representatives recently offered 8.4 percent or a minimum increase of 208 euros. “An offer of 218 euros will certainly not be enough,” the union noted.

“Mood positive and constructive”

In the meantime, you should have come closer to the positions. “The mood is positive and constructive,” commented Thomas Scheiber, Managing Director of Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetriebe and Stubaitalbahn, from the employers’ side of the mood on Monday. “The negotiations have not failed, they have just been postponed. It’s about detailed solutions,” added Scheiber.

But ÖBB Central Works Council Gerhard Tauchner from the employee side is also optimistic: “We’ve come closer. But it’s skewered with middle and lower incomes.” Especially here he called for a significant increase.

For Scheiber, the problem lies in the different service contracts that would apply depending on the entry date. In addition, there would be special contracts for catering on the train and for sleeping cars. A flat-rate distribution of the money without tact would possibly put employees at a disadvantage, noted Scheiber.

Union has to vote first

What is irritating for Scheiber is that the employees’ side wants the union members to see a negotiated offer before it is accepted. “The union consists of its members, so they have the right to vote on it,” Tauchner replied.

Tauchner kept open whether there would be further strikes if the negotiations failed at the last minute. But if so, these would be planned with great care so as not to disrupt Christmas traffic