Austrian union announces strike of forwarding and warehouse workers due to unresolved collective bargaining

According to Vida, the strikes scheduled for June 25 and 26 are a response to employers’ refusal to meet demands for an inflation-adjusted wage increase for around 9,000 employees in freight forwarding and warehousing companies.

Markus Petritsch, chairman of the road haulage association Vida, expressed his frustration with the lengthy negotiations in a recent press release:

“We are ready to negotiate and have proposed another meeting to the Chamber of Commerce for today, Monday. However, the employers have let the time pass unused,” said Petritsch.

The planned warning strikes will take place in over 30 companies in several federal states, including Vienna, Styria, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg.

The strikes are scheduled to take place from 9am to 11am on both days. During this time, there will be no loading or unloading of trucks, which may cause slight delays in supply chains.

Petritsch also warned that there could be an escalation if employers continue on this course:

“The (first) warning strikes will initially only lead to slight delays in the supply chains. If the employers do not show themselves willing to negotiate even after the warning strikes, the duration and ‘accuracy’ of the strikes could be continuously increased.”

According to Vida, the employers’ latest offer after four rounds of negotiations provides for inflation compensation of 5.8 percent for 2024, compared to a floating inflation rate of 7.8 percent.

In addition, a proposed two-year contract calls for a 1 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for 2025. However, the union remains unhappy with this and insists on full inflation compensation and a real wage increase for 2024.

“The bottom line is that our demand for full inflation compensation and a real wage increase in 2024 remains unfulfilled. A warehouse worker or forklift driver earns on average just 2,000 or 2,200 euros gross per month. We cannot therefore accept an offer that would mean a loss of purchasing power for employees,” added Petritsch.