The second round of collective bargaining for the began Thursday morning, involving 90,000 employees. The , led by Birgit Patzak-Windisch, seeks a 3.9 percent salary increase and paid days off for December 24 and December 31.
Employers, represented by lead negotiator Martin Zandonella, offered a 1.2 percent increase for actual salaries and 2 percent for minimums. This follows a 3.3 percent rolling inflation rate and a 7.5 percent turnover rise to 44.31 billion euros in 2025.
Negotiations impact a sector with a 38.5-hour work week and a 2,420 euro minimum salary. The GPA also demands the right to increase hours for regular overtime. If no agreement is reached, a further round of negotiations is scheduled for November 23.