Collective agreements
In it you will find the most important framework conditions of your industry.
For a strong works council
To ensure that the rights of your colleagues on site are respected, we support works councils and youth councils in their work in the company.
Do you have any questions?
We support you in the work of the works council.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions or need help, your first point of contact for you as a works council member is your responsible state secretariat.
The experts in the national organisations will support you in preparing, negotiating or concluding company agreements. Get in touch with us if you have any questions!
Take a look here as well:
Model works agreements
Together with the "Tatort Arbeitsplatz" team, we have already prepared two possible company agreements for you:
Well protected on the supervisory board
With the ÖGB supervisory board insurance, you receive free insurance cover for employee representatives on the supervisory board. After all, participation and co-creation of economic decisions on the supervisory board also means joint responsibility.
Employee representatives who have been delegated to the Supervisory Board are protected against possible claims for damages. The sum insured is € 200,000 per insured person or € 2 million per insured event. There is no deductible.
Who is covered by the insurance cover?
Works councils that are union members and have made a notification of the appointment of employee representatives to the supervisory board.
Please send the completed form to your vida country organization.
Are you a member of the supervisory board and need advice?
We support you with difficult decisions or major operational changes. Get in touch with your vida country organisation – if necessary, we will also put you in touch with our vida business experts.
Rights and obligations
The work of the works council is an honorary office. Nevertheless, you must be granted the "free time" you need to perform the tasks for the work of the works council. Such tasks include, for example:
- Holding works council meetings
- Preparing and conducting works meetings
- Represented by colleagues in employment law matters
- Obtaining information from inter-company interest groups – for example, trade unions or the Chamber of Labour
- Checking working conditions
- Advising employees
Within your five-year term of office as a works councillor, you are also entitled to 3 weeks and 3 days of educational leave.
If the company where you work has more than 150 employees, it is possible to completely release works council members from their professional activities. They can then only work in the works council.
A significant advantage for members of a works council is the special protection against dismissal. This is necessary to ensure employee representation within a company, even if there are conflicts with the boss.
However, this does not mean that a works council can "do anything". Works council members can be dismissed or dismissed for certain serious reasons with the consent of the Labour and Social Court.
In order to fulfil your works council duties, you are granted some claims and rights under the Labour Constitution Act . You are entitled to:
- Time off from work performance
- Qualification
- Hire
- Independence from instructions
- Prohibition of restrictions and discrimination
- Protection against dismissal and dismissal
- Provision of material requirements
Your other rights include, for example
- Protection against arbitrary transfers: As a works councillor, you must be informed of any planned transfer. If a deterioration occurs as a result of a transfer, it can only be carried out with the express consent of the works councils.
- Right to information and advice: The company management must inform you about current affairs, the principles of business management and the structure of the working relationship. In important matters, representatives of the trade union or the Chamber of Labour can be consulted.
- Information rights and participation in the hiring of new employees: As a works councillor, you must be notified before hiring new employees. At the request of the works council body, a special consultation must be carried out. This regulation makes it possible for the works councils to create favourable working conditions from the very beginning.
- Information and monitoring rights of personal employee data: Employers must inform you which personal data they record about employees with the help of automation.
- Participation in economic matters: Employers must inform you about the economic situation, including the financial situation of the business, as well as its expected development, the type and scope of production, the order backlog, sales in terms of volume and value, investment projects and other planned measures to increase the profitability of the business. At the request of the works council body, the employers must also discuss this.
- Restructuring measures: Your employer must inform you about restructuring measures in good time so that you have the opportunity to evaluate the measures in depth and give an opinion. Upon request, employers must consult with the works council on the planned measures. In companies with at least 20 employees, the works council can conclude a social plan with the employers. If no agreement is reached, the arbitration board decides.
Your rights as a works council member are also offset by obligations:
- Duty of peace
- Duty of confidentiality
- Obligation to cooperate
- Duty to safeguard interests
Yes. During a term of office, all works council members are entitled to three weeks and three days of educational leave.
If there is a special interest in a particular training, the educational leave can be extended to a maximum of five weeks.
In companies with at least 20 employees , there is an entitlement to continued payment of remuneration for these three weeks.
IMPORTANT: The works council must inform the business owners at least four weeks before the start of the training and agree with them on the time of the training.
Sources of knowledge and information
- vida FAQs: get an initial overview with our FAQs
- Labor law collection: Over 400 employment law standards with search function
If you have any questions or need help, please contact our experts in the state secretariats! We're here to help.
The experts in the national organisations will support you in preparing, negotiating or concluding company agreements. Get in touch with us if you have any questions!
Take a look here as well:
Model works agreements
Together with the "Tatort Arbeitsplatz" team, we have already prepared two possible company agreements for you:
In the vida Information System for Functionaries (vif), you can find out which employees in your company are unionized or members of your region/local group.
You can also quickly create the vida member you have recruited in the vif with all the necessary data and membership registration and immediately transfer it to the vida national organization.
Who can become a vif user?
You can get access as a works council chairperson or regional/local group functionary.
How do I request vif access?
Fill out the application form below and send it signed to your vida national organization. Your personal access data will then be sent to you by e-mail.