The employee representatives are entering the negotiations for a new railway collective agreement, which start on Monday, with the demand for real wage increases. Inflation needs to be compensated, said Roman Hebenstreit, chairman of the transport and service union vida, on the sidelines of a media event in St. Pölten to the APA: "We urgently need to strengthen purchasing power if we want to come out of this crisis."

Railway Collective Agreement: 2024 Required Four Rounds

The service sector is currently supporting the upswing, said Hebenstreit, chairman of the ÖBB group works council. Last year, the representatives of the union and the Chamber of Commerce agreed in the fourth round of negotiations on an increase in collective agreement and actual wages by 4.1 percent from December 2024. This value was clearly above the underlying inflation rate of 3.5 percent.

"We must not only invest in vehicles and infrastructure, but at least as much in personnel," to provide quality, safety, and punctuality, emphasized Hebenstreit when asked. The fluctuation in the industry is causing problems. The ÖBB, like other railway companies, is "in the midst of a generational change," said the union leader. The industry must be attractive to recruit and retain employees.

(APA/Red)

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