The Vida union is currently trying to negotiate a compromise with the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, which should lead to the preservation of the Lauda base in Vienna. But in a letter to the members, the head of the section, Daniel Liebhart, and his colleague Philip Gastinger dampen hopes, because the WKO and the Lauda management should not be too willing to find a compromise.

In summary, the situation appears to be such that there is only the choice between signing the document required by the Ryanair subsidiary and closing the base, including dismissals. Accordingly, neither WKO nor Lauda management want to enter into a compromise.

“The Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) informed us yesterday evening that there is no longer any room for negotiation because of the new KV demanded by the management with significantly worse conditions for you. From the beginning, neither the Laudamotion management nor the WKÖ was concerned with conducting serious negotiations with us to improve KV. On the contrary, as the multiple extortionate ultimatums sent to you and us have shown: Pressure should only be exerted to accept significantly poorer salary and working conditions, ”write Gastinger and Liebhart to their members. Incidentally, the letter begins with the words "Unfortunately we have sad news".

The Vida union is now in a moral dilemma, as is very clear from the following paragraph of the letter:

“If we accept the shoddy dumping offer from the Austrian Economic Chamber and your management, we in Austria would have to throw overboard all social advances (including 13th and 14th monthly salary, paid overtime) for which generations of workers have fought. If we do not accept the "offer", the Lauda location in Vienna will be closed. The WKÖ clearly and unequivocally communicated to us that there will be no third way of compromise. ”A decision on how to proceed has not been made. The new "dealine" of the Lauda management ends on Thursday evening.

Vida union

Harsh accusations are also made against the Chamber of Commerce: “At the beginning of the Covid crisis, our federal government promised that no one would be left behind. As everyone knows, the President of the WKÖ is one of the closest confidants of Chancellor Kurz, who made this promise to us all. We always included WKÖ President Harald Mahrer in the mailing list during negotiations with the WKÖ. After he has not said a word against this unworthy spectacle, we must assume that he is also in favor of the deterioration for you. The WKÖ and the management are obviously interested in using the Covid crisis to break the working people and to introduce working poor levels, as we know them from the USA, in Austria too. "

The negative points of the collective agreement desired by Lauda are explained in detail as follows: “It is outrageous and pathetic at the same time how the Chamber of Commerce and Laudamotion try to raise the salary of flight attendants above the level of the minimum income with a sleight of hand, in order to save us all Fooling the public. The submitted contract clearly provides for 14.000 euros gross 14 times a year. It states that this amounts to EUR 1.000 gross per month. Now they play 1.020 euros net per month, but only 12 times a year. This is 1.200 euros gross and in turn results in only 14.400 euros gross annually. Management and WKÖ have done nothing else than rob employees of Christmas and vacation pay in order to be able to simulate a salary level above the minimum income 12 times a year! Even with this trick, the guaranteed salaries are below the poverty line and, if viewed without computing tricks, also below the minimum income. The WKÖ does not even address the illegal clauses and provisions that contradict safe flight operations. Our clear message has always been that there must be no minimum wages below the poverty line in Austria. We are also not available for abolishing vacation and Christmas bonuses. In contrast to the WKÖ and your management, we will not accept any illegal regulations in a collective agreement. "