With heart, attitude and handshake

With our podcast "vidaHören" we tour Austria and get to know the state chairmen of the trade union vida better. In the third part of the podcast series, the West meets the East: We ask Herbert Frank, Regional Chairman of vida Tirol, Friedrich "Fritz" Schinagl, Regional Chairman of vida Salzburg, and Helmut Gruber, Regional Chairman of vida Vienna, in front of the microphone. At "vidaHören", they talk about how they came to join the union, what challenges employees and works councils face - and how they organize solidarity again and again. They give an insight behind the scenes of vida and an outlook on the future of trade union work. All three agree: "Those who are organized have more support. Those who are members have more security!"

From the locomotive to the top of the state

Three men, three federal states, one common denominator – Herbert Frank, Fritz Schinagl and Helmut Gruber have a lot in common: All three are passionate railway workers, all three are convinced trade unionists. In doing so, they pursue a clear goal: to improve working conditions in their federal states. What drives them? People, work – and solidarity.

Close to the employees

The challenges in trade union work are complex: work pressure, staff shortages, rising living costs, security of supply – different in Vienna, Salzburg and Tyrol, but essentially the same. "People need wages on which they can live well, predictable working hours and a strong voice that represents their rights and interests," know Herbert Frank, Fritz Schinagl and Helmut Gruber. Whether in nursing, gastronomy, railways or security - vida stands by the employees: with advice, protection and strong commitment.

Mastering crises, shaping the future

Whether it's short-time work in the Corona pandemic or strikes for fair collective agreements – the vida trade union is right in the middle of it all and has its finger on the pulse of the times in the industries represented. Digitalisation, for example through AI, is also massively changing the world of work. That is why it is enormously important that the trade union actively shapes this change, emphasise vida state chairmen Gruber, Schinagl and Frank. "We are strongest when we are directly with the people - on site, in conversation, in the company," they agree.

Community instead of individual combat

What makes good trade union work? For the three state chairmen, this is very clear: team spirit, eye level and presence. "You have to feel the people – only then do you know what they need," emphasise Herbert Frank, Fritz Schinagl and Helmut Gruber. They know: "Whether you're an employee, a works council member or a pensioner – being a member of the vida trade union means being part of a community that protects, strengthens and fights."