AUSTRIA: Trade unions organise day of action

GRAZ, Austria -- Austria's trade union peak body organised a day of action on June 28 to condemn the anti-worker program of the new People's Party-Freedom Party government. It was the first day of public protest by trade unions since the formation of the conservative coalition government five months ago.

Walkouts and short strikes occurred in some industries and regions. Public transport workers struck for one hour against new legislation which raises the age for retirement, and workers in the printing industry walked off the job to protest against cuts to welfare services.

Public housing maintenance workers and concierges voiced their opposition to proposed industrial relations law changes which could wipe out their profession, and even police officers took public action, waving placards and banners opposing cuts to their entitlements. Teachers protested against being forced by the government to work for longer hours for less pay.

The June 28 events are a step forward in so far as days of action are rare in Austria, where a decades-long “social partnership” between business, government and trade union leaderships has produced a demobilised and pliable work force. However, the small size and short-lived nature of the day of action is an indication that the trade union leaderships' willingness to move beyond symbolic protest and seriously fight the government's austerity drive is still very limited.

BY MARGARITA WINDISCH

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