Order Hospitals Upper Austria: All-day strike on 22 January 2026

Today, Thursday, an all-day strike of non-medical employees will take place in all eight religious hospitals in Upper Austria. Parallel to the strike in the houses, the employees will meet for a public strike meeting in Linz from 10 a.m. onwards.

Back to the negotiating table until 30 January

The strike was triggered by four inconclusive rounds of collective bargaining negotiations for around 10,000 employees. The employees' demands to the employers: an offer that compensates for inflation, a gradual reduction in working hours and concrete measures against the massive workload. "Today's strike is the consequence of months of stalemate in the negotiations," explains Martina Reischenböck, negotiator for the trade union vida. "At the same time, we state: We want to negotiate - and seriously."

The trade union vida calls on the employers in writing to enter into a fifth round of negotiations in order to work together and constructively on a solution. A response is expected by Monday, January 26. The aim is to return to the negotiating table by the end of January at the latest and to reach a fair and sustainable result as soon as possible.

Health care secured

Strike committees have been set up in all houses on 22 January, and the employees have been comprehensively informed. The well-being of the patients has top priority. The strike was deliberately announced early in order to enable orderly processes and to ensure emergency service agreements for all occupational groups. The care of emergencies and inpatients is guaranteed at all times. Any postponements or cancellations of examinations, treatments and interventions were communicated by the hospital management.

"This strike is not an end in itself. It makes visible how stressful the normal condition in the hospital has long since become," Reischenböck emphasizes. "Good working conditions are the basis for safe and high-quality health care."

State politics also has a responsibility: "The permanent overload in the health care system is a structural problem. Sufficient financing, clear framework conditions and noticeable improvements for employees are needed – otherwise the staff shortage will continue to worsen," Reischenböck concludes.