Explorer Hotel torpedoes works council election

A real scandal broke out today, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in the Tyrolean Stubai Valley around the planned and legally convened works council election at the Explorer Hotel. From massive intimidation attempts to the dismissal of a works council candidate to the police operation against the electoral board, the hotel management apparently left no means out to sabotage the establishment of an interest group. In the end, the works council election had to be ended prematurely, but could still be carried out legally. This means that once again a Tyrolean hotel business is making negative headlines.

Dismissal of an employee running for the works council

For weeks, the vida trade union had been preparing to set up a works council together with the 16 employees at the Explorer Hotel in the Stubai Valley. The – ultimately failed – attempts of the hotel management to prevent the works council election by all means took on a frightening dimension. In the run-up to the election, the hotel management had already dismissed an employee who wanted to run for the works council and played a central role in the works council election as an electoral board member without giving reasons. The message to the workforce was unmistakable: Anyone who is committed to co-determination must expect consequences. The union has already taken legal action in this regard. Other employees were also put under massive pressure. As if that were not enough, the hotel management finally called the police at the time of the election to expel the electoral board from the hotel. The works council election, which was scheduled for one hour, finally had to be called off 15 minutes before the scheduled end, but could be carried out legally despite the massive resistance of the hotel management. With a high voter turnout, the employees defied the intimidation attempts of the hotel management.

Attack on democratic co-determination

"These events in a Tyrolean hotel represent an unprecedented attack on the basic democratic rights of workers. Anyone who intimidates employees, prevents candidacies, puts pressure on election officials and even brings the police into position is opposing the basic principles of co-determination and democracy itself. We will not put up with this and expect a clear signal from the Chamber of Commerce in terms of social partnership!", says Tyrol's ÖGB Regional Chairwoman Sonja Föger-Kalchschmied in clear words. The ÖGB has been calling for judicial penalties for the obstruction or obstruction of works council elections or elections for staff representation, the youth council and for a representative for the disabled.

Recent events show once again that the negative headlines surrounding individual hotels in Tyrol do not stop. While the industry is talking publicly about the shortage of skilled workers, attractiveness as an employer and appreciation for employees, methods are apparently being used behind closed doors that must have no place in a democratic state governed by the rule of law.

Incidents in the industry raise questions

"What has happened here is not only a labour law scandal, but an alarming signal for the handling of co-determination and employee rights in parts of the Tyrolean hotel industry. The management's attacks on this important democratic instrument for co-determination speak for themselves: this works council election was more than necessary. Anyone who reacts in such panic to the democratic election of an interest group provides the best proof that employees need protection, support and a strong voice," says Herbert Frank, regional chairman of the trade union vida Tirol.

Mario Pritzi, regional secretary of the trade union vida Tirol, is also annoyed by the hostility of the company management: "With its attacks, the company management has done everything to prevent employees from having a say and to prevent an absolutely legitimate representation of their interests. The employees have been signaled: Those who exercise their rights will become targets. Intimidation, obstruction of works council elections and disregard for trade union rights must not go unpunished. Employees are entitled to protection, to co-determination and to the free exercise of their democratic rights – without fear of dismissal."

Full support for employees

The incident is already making waves nationwide. Eva Eberhart, Chairwoman of the Tourism Department of the trade union vida, draws clear boundaries: "With its behaviour, the hotel management has crossed every boundary of respectful and lawful treatment of its employees. Works council elections are not an act of mercy by the employer, but a legally protected democratic right. Anyone who tries to sabotage this right attacks the representation of the interests of employees head-on. The fact that the employees were not intimidated by this deserves the greatest respect."

Explorer Hotels: 11 locations in Austria and Germany

The "Explorer Hotel" chain speaks of itself on its website as one of the "most exciting hotel projects in Europe". There are currently eleven locations in Austria and Germany: Oberstdorf, Neuschwanstein, Berchtesgaden, Garmisch, Montafon, Kitzbühel, Stubaital, Zillertal, Hinterstoder, Ötztal and Bad Kleinkirchheim. The next location in Bayrischzell is scheduled to open in October 2026. After today's events, however, another question arises: How up-to-date is a company that apparently reacts to the democratic organization of its employees with pressure, intimidation and attempts to obstruct it?

Good to know: Facts about the BR election

The works council election must be conducted according to the principles of equal, direct and secret suffrage (ArbVG § 51 para 1). According to Section 40 ArbVG, a works council can be set up in companies with at least five permanent employees. Employees within the meaning of Section 36 of the Labour Constitution Act who have reached the age of 16 on the day of the election of the electoral board and are employed in the company on the day of the works council election are entitled to elect the works council (ArbVG § 52, para. 1). With the exception of admitted voters, the election is carried out by handing in the ballot paper in person at the polling place (BRWO § 24 paras 3 and 4). Works councils – apart from laws – work tirelessly for even more fairness in many other areas: The range extends from topics such as home office, shift work, further training to additional leisure time. In many companies, all this is regulated in works agreements, which can only be concluded with the works council.