The GPA-DJP trade union that organises in the private health and energy sectors has called on unions to negotiate higher minimum wages. Austrian unions have managed to ensure that no collective agreement has a minimum rate less than €1000 a month but the GPA-DJP argues that this is inadequate and that it is only just above the EU’s poverty wage threshold of €900 a month. The union wants to see all collective agreements with minimum wages of at least €1300 a month.
Read more at > GPA-DJP (DE)
Union calls for higher minimum wages in collective agreements
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Confederation calls for higher minimum wages and measures to reduce wage arrears
On the even of the World Day for Decent Work, the FPSU trade union confederation highlighted the continuing problem of wage arrears. Although the situation had improved since the beginning of the year, workers were still owed UAH 1.5 billion (€135 million) in back pay with the state sector one of the worst affected. The Confederation also pointed out the problem of low pay the health sector and the need for a higher minimum wage. The government says it is aiming at a minimum wage of UAH 1004 by the end of 2011 but the union target is UAH 1655.
Higher minimum wage in waste sector
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Effectiveness of minimum wages in collective agreements
The GPA-DJP services union has underlined the effectiveness of relying on minimum wages in collective agreements. A recent report by the Hans Böckler-Stiftung in Germany notes that Austria has one of the smallest percentage of low-paid workers in Europe. This is down to the very high level of collective bargaining coverage with most sector agreements having a monthly minimum salary of at least €1300, several with €1400 and with unions pushing for a €1500 minimum. Trade unions still need to work on some areas of the economy where workers are not covered by collective agreements as well as