Action group calls for reform of the electoral law by the next Chamber of Labor elections
Vienna (OTS) – Starting today, the Chamber of Labor elections are entering their final round. A moment that reveals a profound problem: many employees – apprentices, part-time employees, people on maternity leave, civilian or military servants and the recently unemployed – face unnecessary hurdles in exercising their right to vote. The action group is sounding the alarm and calling for an immediate reform of the electoral law.
Disproportionate obstacles in the electoral process
Part-time employees, including many students, are currently faced with the problem that they were not automatically included in the voter lists for the Chamber of Labor election and, for example, cannot vote today. This group must actively submit an application in order to be able to exercise their right to vote – a process that is not known to many or is perceived as an additional hurdle. “The fact that marginally employed students, who are often already burdened by their studies and work, have to take such a detour in order to be able to vote is an unacceptable situation,” criticizes Verena Gattinger, federal chairwoman of the action group. “Participation in the Chamber of Labor elections is a fundamental right that all employees should be entitled to equally.”
Until the next Chamber of Labor election: an inclusive right to vote
The action group demands that the voting law for the Chamber of Labor elections be reformed so that all potential voters are automatically included in the voter list. This would not only make participation easier, but also increase the representativeness of the election and ensure that the interests of all employees are represented equally.
A call to action
“It is time for electoral law reform that meets the requirements and reality of today’s labor market,” emphasizes Gattinger. “All working students deserve the right to be able to freely choose their representation in the Chamber of Labor. The action group will strongly insist on the future representation of the Chamber of Labor that this essential reform of the electoral law is implemented.”
About the action group
As the largest student representation in Austria, the Aktionsgemeinschaft represents the interests and rights of students nationwide and has been the executive at 13 universities since the 2023 ÖH elections. Since its founding, the Aktionsgemeinschaft has set itself the goal of improving study conditions and advocating for fair and inclusive university policy. Our work covers a wide range of topics, from educational accessibility to improving the quality of teacher training to promoting the compatibility of study and work. Through its active participation in political discourses and constructive cooperation with educational institutions, the Aktionsgemeinschaft makes a significant contribution to shaping the Austrian educational landscape.
Questions & Contact:
Alexandra Bosek
Press spokesperson
+43 680 322 4406
alexandra. bosek@aktionsgemeinschaft.at