On Tuesday, representatives of Austrian retail employees and employers meet for the second round of negotiations for the 2025 Collective Agreement, affecting more than 430,000 retail workers. The two sides remain far apart on wage adjustments, with the GPA union pushing for a 4.8% increase while employers’ initial offer stands at 2.8%. These discussions are grounded in the current rolling inflation rate of 3.8%, while the latest inflation figures indicate a 1.8% rate of price increases.
The union’s lead negotiator, Veronika Arnost, voiced dissatisfaction with the employers’ offer, emphasizing that it falls significantly short of what retail employees both “expect and urgently need.” Employer representative Rainer Trefelik, following the first round of talks, characterized the discussions as “on a good footing” but urged the union to “meet the reality” of the challenging economic conditions facing businesses.
Retail remains Austria’s largest private-sector employer, second only to the public sector, with recent annual revenue figures reaching €314 billion. Both sides will continue to debate in an effort to reach a fair compromise amid inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty.
