KV-Handel: Employers’ offer of a 3.1% salary increase is too low

The second round of negotiations for the approximately 430,000 employees and apprentices in retail took place today, November 5th. no result. “The employers’ offer of 3.1% without a single concession in the framework law is simply too low and very disappointing,” said the chief negotiator of the GPA union, Veronika Arnost.

The GPA, for its part, reduced its salary demands in two steps to 4.5% and 4.3% respectively, while maintaining all legal requirements, thereby showing a clear willingness for a constructive process of rapprochement.

“Unfortunately, employers are blocking this process by insisting on their offer. The suggestion of design options such as a combination of a percentage increase and free time was also not addressed,” said Arnost.

“We will inform employees throughout Austria about the status of negotiations at works meetings starting tomorrow. Given the continued high cost of living, such as rents and energy, employees in retail need security that their salaries will rise sustainably. We expect more movement in the next round of negotiations,” said the chairman of the trade sector in the GPA union, Martin Müllauer.

The next, third round of negotiations will take place on November 14th.