Private bus company – WKÖ industry chairman Horvath: “Nusal allegations of the union”

“The employers of the private Austrian bus companies reject the baseless allegations and assumptions of the Vida union to the sharpest. The assertion that there is wage dumping and a preference for bus drivers: inside with red-white-red cards, every basis is without the basis. This is an irresponsible attack on the entire Austrian bus industry, ”says Martin Horvath, chairman of the professional group Bus in the Austria (WKÖ) Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) against the background that less than 1 percent handlebars are currently being employed with red and white-red.

“Rather, the fact is: The private bus industry in Austria offers one of the highest entry -level wages and attractive working conditions:“ In the past six years, the entry -level wage has been increased by 45 percent. Bus driver: Inside, a net income of 2,850 euros is currently available (including diets and 3.5 overtime) – regardless of their origin. So there is no wage difference between driver: inside from Austria and those that come from other countries, ”explains professional group chairman Horvath. And further: “In addition, important improvements in working conditions were achieved in a constructive social partnership dialogue process,” says Horvath, who also acts as chief negotiators on the employer on the employer.

The multitude of these improvements more than clearly show how successfully the social partners have so far made working conditions more attractive together:

• The integration of the difficulty allowance into the hourly wages and thus a significant increase in gross wages
• The takeover of the course costs for the 35-hour further training and their remuneration as working hours
• The introduction of a lump sum for preliminary and final work in line traffic
• a minimum payment of 6.5 hours in line traffic
• A reduction in the unpaid break in the context of a corridor control
• or
• those in the interest of the employees: wages revised inside

He also points out that “in view of the stagnant KV negotiations – the private bus company was recommended to increase wages by 3.5 percent as of January 1, 2025 – a clear signal that fair remuneration and attractive working conditions are in focus” .

“It is incomprehensible to me why the Vida union – before the upcoming continuation of the collective agreement negotiations – has lost interest in this successful path, which also jeopardizes the international competitiveness of the bus industry,” regrets professional group spokesman Martin Horvath. Because the demands that had recently been raised by Vida would lead to a financial additional burden on the bus companies of more than ten percent. In many cases that would be threatening to exist.

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) and private bus companies are working intensively to work for both as a handlebar: to make an attractive manner in the inside and for new workers. “The repeated panic of the union with the spread of legally wrong claims and assumptions harms the entire industry and the many committed bus drivers: inside, which ensure safe and reliable public transport every day,” Horvath concludes. (PwK046/JHR)