
Around 350 retail employees gathered on Friday at Schillerplatz near Linz’s shopping street Landstraße for a “disruption action” on Black Friday, demanding a better wage agreement. Collective bargaining for the 2025 sectoral agreement (Kollektivvertrag, KV) is set to resume next Tuesday.
Despite the fourth round of negotiations on Thursday evening, no agreement was reached for a new collective agreement covering over 430,000 retail employees. The union, GPA, is now escalating pressure through protests, including “disruption actions” on Black Friday and Saturday.
350 Participants Demand Fair Wages
According to organizers, 350 people participated in the Linz protest, coordinated with the police, using chants like “We are retail” and whistles to make their voices heard. “Every year, we have to take to the streets for a fair—and I won’t even say ‘good’—pay deal,” said Sonja Kowaleinen, regional secretary of GPA. Wolfgang Gerstmayer, head of GPA Upper Austria, recalled, “During COVID, you were applauded,” but now, he said, the workers were being denied a fair wage agreement, which he described as disrespectful and lacking in appreciation.
Union Reduces Wage Demands
The workers initially demanded a 4.3% wage increase for 2025 but reduced the demand to 3.9% on Thursday. Employers have offered a two-year deal, starting with a 3.1% increase and an additional half a percent above inflation the following year, but only if inflation is below 2%.
Negotiations to Continue Tuesday
“This offer is unacceptable, it represents a real wage loss,” said GPA chief negotiator Veronika Arnost, receiving applause from the protestors. She emphasized that the risks of the economic situation were being unfairly placed on retail workers. The union criticized that the employers’ offer did not guarantee sustainable wage development. Despite this, Arnost confirmed that negotiations would continue after the protest weekend, with the next round set for December 3.
Discussions for Retail Workers and Public Sector Employees
Meanwhile, negotiations for the 2025 collective agreement for 150,000 retail workers, such as warehouse employees, also began this week. The union vida reported a positive atmosphere during the first meeting of social partners. Employers initially offered a 3.1% increase, while vida negotiator Kathrin Schranz called for at least inflation compensation, emphasizing that the rolling inflation rate of 3.8% should be offset.
The next negotiations for workers in the retail sector are scheduled for December 12.
Public Sector Employees Receive 3.5% Pay Increase
This week, social partners reached an agreement for public sector employees, with an average 3.5% increase, distributed according to social criteria. The minimum increase is €82.40, with a maximum of €437.80. This figure remains below the rolling inflation rate of 3.8%. Additionally, an agreement for 2026 has already been fixed, with another 0.3% increase based on inflation between October 2024 and September 2025.
Minister of Public Service Werner Kogler (Greens) highlighted that public service employees must remain competitive with the private sector to stay an attractive employer.