AUA-Vida Dispute: Stalemate Marks 18th Round of Negotiations

The ongoing dispute between Austrian Airlines (AUA) management and employee representatives has reached a stalemate, with talks ending on Monday without an agreement. According to the vida union, negotiations will continue tomorrow morning, but both sides have agreed not to disclose the status of discussions.

The 18th round of negotiations marked a significant milestone in the dispute, with both sides remaining steadfast in their positions. In the previous 17 rounds, there was a considerable gap in their demands. While the AUA on-board works council and union are pushing for salaries to be aligned with those of Lufthansa, the German parent company, which could mean an increase of up to 40 percent, management is offering up to 18 percent more for pilots and flight attendants and up to 28 percent more for co-pilots over a two-year period. Management argues that larger salary increases would make most AUA routes unprofitable.

Both parties have increased pressure through strikes and meetings, resulting in hundreds of flight cancellations and a financial loss of €24 million due to the ongoing dispute. Vida boss Roman Hebenstreit accused AUA leadership of not being serious about their offer, claiming that the numbers mentioned include components that would never be achieved. Management’s inflexible attitude has been blamed for the flight cancellations.

In conclusion, the dispute between AUA management and employee representatives remains unresolved as both sides continue to negotiate without any signs of progress towards an agreement.