Unions want to see higher minimum wage and proper enforcement

The SETCA/BBTK trade union has called for proper negotiations in response to the health ministry’s plans to improve the attractiveness of healthcare professions. The union welcomes the initiative but argues that issues covered in the plan – such as reducing workloads, tackling stress, training and qualifications and pay – should all be the subject of collective bargaining. The union is also concerned about any proposals to single out particular professions for special treatment when it is important to see how the various professions complement each other. [Read more at > SETCA (FR)->http://www

Better employment conditions and a new funding system are need to improve the quality of health and social care according to Wolfgang Katzian, head of the GPA-DJP trade union that represents workers in the private health and social care sectors. In the context of a major debate over the reform of healthcare funding, Katzian underlined the importance of having properly regulated providers with trained staff covered by a collective agreement. The sector is currently plagued by pseudo-self-employment that makes regulation very difficult and undermines attempts to maintain pay and conditions.

The head of the younion public services union, Christian Meidlinger, representing workers in local and regional authorities, has written to the Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Public Services calling for the annual public sector pay negotiations to start as soon as possible. Noting the good performance of Austrian public services in international comparisons, Meidlinger argues that the work of public service workers should be recognised, particularly where they have managed to maintain services while facing pressure from staffing shortages. He has also underlined the need for a pay rise