Important signal against loss of chewing force

"I expressly welcome the change in thinking of the Chamber of Commerce and its president. Wage restraint and loss of purchasing power cannot be a solution – we have always said that as a trade union. If the Chamber of Commerce now agrees on an increase of 4.2 percent for its own employees, this is a clear commitment that there will be no economic recovery without proper wage increases," emphasizes vida chairman Roman Hebenstreit.

If you want to strengthen the economy, you have to strengthen purchasing power

"Employees are not a cost center, they are the pillar of the economy. Every euro more in the wallet is a euro that is spent again – and that is exactly what our country needs after years of inflation and a stagnating economy. So anyone who – like the Chamber of Commerce – recognizes that wage restraint is only prolonging the crisis can only be congratulated," said Hebenstreit.

Important signal for the trade and security industry

"This agreement is an important signal for the ongoing negotiations in trade and the security industry. These employees in particular have performed enormously in recent years, often under difficult conditions - and they now earn degrees that are significantly higher than rolling inflation," clarifies the vida chairman.

Now we need a real role model effect

"If the Chamber of Commerce recognises in itself that fair wages are the basis for stability, then it should also take this insight into the ongoing collective agreement negotiations. Strengthening purchasing power is not a threat to the economy – it is its prerequisite," said Hebenstreit.