The Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ) and its works council are taking a salary dispute to the Supreme Court of Justice (OGH). The legal battle centers on whether approximately 5,800 employees are entitled to a 4.2 percent salary increase for the year 2026.
A 2024 factor formula calculated the 4.2 percent raise, but the WKÖ Presidium passed a resolution in November 2025 to limit the increase to 2.1 percent. Former President Harald Mahrer proposed delaying the full raise until July 2026 before his resignation.
Martha Schultz, sworn in as the first female WKÖ President in January 2026, now leads the organization during this litigation. A declaratory motion filed with the OGH will clarify the legal basis for the wages, with a court decision expected in months.