SWÖ Collective Agreement 2026
Trade unions GPA and vida are demanding a +4 percent wage and salary increase as well as better working conditions.
KV negotiation
Around 130,000 employees in the private care, health and social sector (SWÖ) are eagerly awaiting the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations. The trade unions GPA and vida have handed over their demands to the employers of the Austrian Social Economy. The focus is on fair incomes, better working conditions and a focus on the organisation of working hours.
Demands for 130,000 employees
"The social economy is not affected by any crisis: demand is increasing, skilled workers are still desperately needed. We are not in competition with foreign corporations, but with domestic employers for qualified personnel. We do not accept bogus arguments of cuts that have not yet been implemented, which are intended to create uncertainty in advance. The employees have earned a fair wage and salary increase," explains Eva Scherz, chief negotiator of the GPA trade union.
The central demand is +4 percent on wages and salaries. This is intended to reward the commitment of the employees who do the hard physical and emotional work every day.
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Focus on working hours
In addition to income, the issue of working hours and part-time work is increasingly coming to the fore. "The topic of working hours, especially part-time, is close to the hearts of our colleagues. We will therefore work towards improvements here this year in addition to the income issue. Employers, who often have to struggle with staff shortages, should have a vested interest in creating attractive working conditions," emphasizes Michaela Guglberger, chief negotiator of the trade union vida.
"The topic of working hours, especially part-time, is close to the hearts of our colleagues. We will therefore work towards improvements here this year in addition to the income issue."
70 percent of women work in the industry, and the same number are employed part-time. These structures make working time issues a central point in the negotiations.
Review and outlook
The current SWÖ collective agreement 2025 has already brought improvements: +4 percent more wages, a minimum wage of 2,150.10 euros for 37 hours a week, higher bonuses for stepping in at short notice and the retention of the care allowance.
With the new collective agreement, which will apply from 1 January 2026, the GPA and vida trade unions want to build on these successes. The first round of negotiations will take place on 21 October 2025.
Significance for society and the economy
The Austrian Social Economy (SWÖ) comprises around 100 occupational groups – from mobile and inpatient care to childcare, work with the disabled and rescue services. These employees are an indispensable pillar of society.
Under the motto "Good work, good pay", the trade unions are fighting to ensure that these services finally receive the appreciation they deserve.
