"Krone" commentary

AUA: Suicide in installments?

Taking stock for the "Kronen Zeitung": Dr. Georg Wailand(Bild: stock.adobe.com, Krone KREATIV)

If you don't make a millimeter of progress in twenty (!) rounds of negotiations, then something is wrong. Then one of the negotiators simply doesn't want a solution. This is what happened in the salary negotiations at Austrian Airlines.

An increase of 18 or 28 percent? Such a "sandwich" didn't even bring a weary smile from the trade unionist Hebenstreit. It has to be 40 percent, as much as the colleagues at Lufthansa earn, that's it! All or nothing - really all or nothing?

With all understanding for tough negotiations: The AUA works councils must be careful that this does not lead to disaster. Is AUA vital? For us in Austria, yes, but not for global air traffic. Rigid disputes have already swept away many formerly state-owned airlines: Where is an Alitalia today? Where is Sabena? Where is a Malev? An SAS is now only a zombie. Is this to be the fate of AUA?

The salary dispute is also curious. Vida CEO Hebenstreit is fighting for millionaires: AUA pilots earn between 150,000 and 300,000 euros, for them he wants 50,000 euros more per year. 90 percent of the increase will go to the 1060 millionaires in the cockpit, the small remainder will be shared by the 1500 less well-paid flight attendants. AUA, barely recovered, already in unnecessary turbulence again?

Is this modern trade union policy? Or is it suicide in installments?