Vienna Airport is hopeful for a resolution between AUA management and the vida union as the conflict heavily impacts the airport. Günther Ofner, airport boss, believes that a solution must be reached to avoid further damage to the 70,000 employees and other suppliers and service providers at the airport. The AUA negotiations began around three months ago in mid-January, but no negotiations have occurred since then.
There is currently no date set for another official round of negotiations, nor has the union announced any further strikes. However, an agreement was reached on Thursday with representatives of the employers’ side for a seven percent increase for employees starting on May 1st, based on the inflation rate of 6.34 percent over the past twelve months.
The AUA conflict has already had a negative impact on Austrian economic history and may become a precedent if no agreement is reached and another strike occurs. The AUA is offering an eight percent increase retroactively for 2024, with five percent each for 2025 and 2026. However, the union is concerned that the AUA includes future inflation in the five percent offered for the later years.
Negotiations are ongoing with discussions taking place at various levels but no progress has been made yet. It seems that neither side is willing to make concessions that could lead to negotiations as it may result in losing face for one party. The outcome of these negotiations will have a significant impact on the resolution of the AUA conflict and its effect on Austrian economy as a whole.