In a recent statement, the Federal Executive Director of the Austrian Trade Union Confederation (ÖGB), Ingrid Reischl, sharply criticized the demands of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV). Reischl described the IV's current move as a further attack on the country's workers. She emphasized that instead of burdening workers, industry should focus its efforts on improving working conditions.
Reischl was particularly opposed to the demand for a reduction in non-wage labor costs. She warned that such a measure would endanger the welfare state, as it would mean fewer funds would be available for social benefits. She also criticized the demands for a reduction in the tax rate as unrealistic and incompatible with basic arithmetic. Reischl expressed that the IV primarily wants to reward the greedy and does not plan to relieve the burden on the hard-working.
The union representative also pointed out that the measures proposed by the IV, such as new rules for collective bargaining or increasing working hours, all represent attacks on the country's working people. She accused the IV of only representing the interests of large companies and of not proving itself to be a reliable social partner. Instead, Reischl called for measures that help to find skilled workers and keep older workers in the job until retirement age, which could bring economic benefits in the long term.
Overall, Reischl clearly rejected the IV's demands and stressed the importance of focusing on the real needs of workers. She stressed that the Federation of Industrialists' proposals are primarily aimed at increasing the profits of large companies rather than improving the living and working conditions of the working population.
Source Attribution: Seen in an article from www.ots.at.
Source: die-nachrichten.at
