AUA-KV: "The management has pushed us into this situation"
Roman Hebenstreit in the "Krone" on the AUA collective agreement
Aviation
Bogus offers
After 20 rounds of negotiations in the AUA salary dispute, there is still no agreement: "To a certain extent, the management has pushed us into this situation. Bogus offers were communicated to the public by 18 or even 28 percent, but they never held at the negotiating table," Hebenstreit said in an interview with the "Sonntagskrone".
"The workforce is doing an excellent job and has waived salaries worth 300 million euros during the Corona crisis. Nevertheless, it is treated by the Lufthansa Group as bringing up the rear. To this day, no one has found it worth the effort to thank the workforce."
"We would have liked to have caught up in the group. But that has to be more than a bare inflation rate," the vida trade unionist points out that the Lufthansa Group makes a profit of 2.7 billion and distributes 40 percent of it as dividends. AUA had a record profit of 127 million euros, and flight attendants would earn 1700 euros net for a security-relevant shift worker job. Salary differences to the other airlines in the Lufthansa Group are "glaring", including among pilots. "We have to reduce this gap, that's what it's all about," Hebenstreit emphasizes.
Empty promises
As far as the rescue of AUA in the pandemic with taxpayers' money is concerned, Hebenstreit recalls that at the time it was said that "the rescue package would only be available if the employees forewent income. In addition to the 150 million taxpayers' money, 300 million salary waivers have been achieved." Employment, location and investment guarantees had been promised in return. However, the Austrian taxpayers' money was then only the foundation for Lufthansa's dividends. The German state was wiser. He had taken shares as collateral, according to Hebenstreit.
"I would slowly expect someone to call Lufthansa and ask for the (location and employment guarantees, note.) also demands. That the politically responsible say, dear Lufthansa, stop blackmailing the Austrian employees!"
In response to the "Krone" question as to whether AUA could "crash" in the course of the collective bargaining dispute, Hebenstreit said that this did not depend on the union, but on the AUA managers. And further about AUA boss Annette Mann: "I have never heard her speak in public for AUA. She always talks only about the Lufthansa Group, which is more than strange for the Austrian workforce."
"Please do not underestimate the disappointment of your workforce about what is happening in your company right now!"
Asked where he sees the task of the trade unions, the vida chairman answers: "We have to be careful that proportionality is maintained. Gandhi said: 'The world has enough for everyone's needs, but not for everyone's greed.' It is the trade unions that ensure that this greed does not get out of hand with their balancing function."
You can find the interview in full length here:
https://www.krone.at/3334006