Demands for Wage Freeze in Paper Industry Spark Union Response

In a recent round of negotiations concerning collective agreements in the paper industry, employers have maintained their stance advocating for a wage freeze, leading to an unresolved outcome. The second negotiation session, held on April 16, 2025, concluded without progress, exacerbating tensions between employers and employees.

In light of the employers' insistence on a wage freeze, representatives from the PRO-GE and GPA unions convened for an extraordinary meeting to address the situation. The attending union representatives unanimously rejected the notion of a wage freeze, expressing their frustration and disbelief at the employers' position.

The unions firmly assert that a wage freeze is unacceptable. They emphasize that wage restraint translates into actual income losses for workers, undermining their contributions and demonstrating a lack of appreciation for their efforts. Union leaders have warned that such measures could hinder private consumption, especially in the current challenging economic climate.

Walter Kogler, the head of the economic sector for the paper industry within the GPA, highlighted the detrimental effects of wage stagnation on economic stability, stating that it would not help in stabilizing the economy as some might believe. He, along with Werner Leitner, the industry chair in PRO-GE, has called for sustainable wage increases to protect purchasing power and foster the economic stability that is urgently needed.

In response to the ongoing standoff, the unions have scheduled a nationwide conference for workplace representatives on April 28, 2025, in Vienna. This conference aims to strategize the next steps collaboratively with representatives from various companies. Both Kogler and Leitner indicated that if employers continue to delay progress, the unions would escalate their pressure on the employers.

The next negotiation session is set for May 8, 2025, during which the unions will seek a reasonable proposal from the employers regarding fair wage increases. The unions are committed to ensuring that workers' needs are addressed and that the economic contributions of employees are recognized and rewarded adequately.