Deaconesses Linz and Schladming: More money and additional days off for employees

The trade union vida has reached a successful collective agreement for the employees of the deaconesses in Linz and Schladming. In addition to an increase in salaries and allowances, additional days off, improvements for older employees and fairer recognition of professional experience were enforced. The result of the negotiations was accepted by a large majority of the employees: 97.9 percent voted for the new collective agreement in a member survey.

Strong union brings strong results

The current agreement impressively shows the difference a high level of trade union organisation can make. More than half of the employees covered by the collective agreement are members of the vida trade union. This strengthens the negotiating position and enables concrete improvements.

Salaries and allowances increase by 3.4 percent

Salaries and allowances will be increased by 3.4 percent. For the employees of the Deaconesses Linz, the increase will come into force on August 1, 2026, and for the employees in Schladming on October 1, 2026. Apprentice compensation will even increase by 3.7 percent.

From the union's point of view, this has been an important safeguard against the rising cost of living.

"Especially in times of high living costs, it is important that incomes compensate for inflation and thus provide employees with social security. We have succeeded in doing so with this agreement," said Leitner-Kastenhuber.

One and a half additional days off for more relief

The expansion of leisure time entitlements is particularly pleasing. In the future, all employees will receive one additional day of vacation per year. In addition, December 31 will be counted as a full day off from 2027. Until now, New Year's Eve was only considered half a day off.

This gives employees a total of one and a half additional days off per year.

For healthcare workers, this means a noticeable relief in a working environment that is often characterized by high stress and staff shortages.

Improvements in partial retirement and retirement

The new collective agreement also brings important progress for older employees. In the future, there will be a legal entitlement to partial retirement after just five years of service. In addition, the possibility of agreeing on a partial pension has been created.

These regulations facilitate a healthy transition to retirement and create more planning security for long-term employees.

Professional experience will be credited more fairly in the future

From 1 January 2027, all relevant previous periods of service will be taken into account. This will take professional experience into account more comprehensively and make the classification fairer.

Especially in health and care professions, where employees often move between different facilities, this improvement represents an important step towards more fairness.

97.9 percent approval of the collective bargaining agreement

The broad approval of the employees underlines the high level of acceptance of the negotiation result. Almost 98 percent of the vida members surveyed were in favor of accepting the new collective agreement.

"This collective agreement is the result of a strong workforce that stands up for itself," Leitner-Kastenhuber emphasizes.

The agreement at the Deaconesses Linz and Schladming thus shows once again: Where employees stick together and organize themselves in unions, noticeable improvements in wages, leisure time and working conditions can be achieved.