In the middle of the lockdown, a dispute over the Sunday opening has broken out, WKO President Mahrer is in favor, and there is heavy criticism from the union and churches.
On Thursday, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Harald Mahrer, made people sit up and take notice: shops should be allowed to open longer after the lockdown and also on Sunday. In addition to stimulating the economy and cushioning the lockdown losses, the extended opening hours could also prevent mass rushes, “Today” reported.
The lockdown hits retail particularly hard. According to the trade association, around 6,000 companies are facing bankruptcy. Shops usually generate a third of their sales, especially in the run-up to Christmas. The Chamber of Commerce boss advocated continuing to shop at home: “It is now important that sales remain in Austria.”
The union was outraged by the advance of the Sunday opening. “We are more than surprised and angry. We weren't even asked to talk to us,” said Barbara Teiber, chairwoman of the GPA union. The trade employees have already been asked several times about the Sunday opening and the proposal was rejected by a majority.
“Shops can already stay open until 9:00 p.m. How much longer?” Said Teiber. “Trade employees are people too, have families.” The union woman does not accept the argument that the domestic trading companies are thus being strengthened against large US online providers such as Amazon.
The GPA would be ready for any alliance for a fair taxation of the online giant. According to Teiber, that would also bring something in contrast to two open Sundays.
She advocates that the “Corona Thousand” should finally be implemented in retail. “There was the idea of converting it into vouchers”. This could be implemented next year, which would also help retail in the medium term.
The Chamber of Labor also criticized Mahrer's proposal. A Sunday opening would only bring more problems. “I don't see any point in opening shops on Sundays. That creates more problems for employees, their families and small businesses than it can help the economy as a whole,” said AK President Renate Anderl.
According to the SPÖ politician, many single parents work in retail, so childcare would be a big problem.
Furthermore, during the stressful Corona period and in the stressful pre-Christmas period, employees would need relaxation breaks on Sundays.
According to the Chamber of Labor, there would also be a distortion of competition. “Because large chains benefit significantly more from such an opening than small retailers,” says Anderl. More trade also means that the shops need more supplies, so suppliers would also be affected by Sunday work, argues the AK.
Further criticism came from the “Alliance for Free Sunday”, which includes the churches, trade unions and numerous civil society organizations. The trade employees in particular need a rest on Sunday, said Allianz coordinator Daniela Ebeert on Thursday.
“Sunday is an important economic cultural asset in Austria,” said Ebeert. If everyone had another day off, volunteer work, for example, would no longer be possible. “So much breaks down there.”
WKÖ-internal resistance is also stirring. Peter Buchmüller, President of the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce and himself a trader, is against the Mahrer initiative, for example: “That would not be good for the trade, especially for small and medium-sized businesses,” he explained in the “Kleine Zeitung”. After all, the employees would have to get a 100 percent bonus. “The question is who this is a business for – only for the big ones,” said the Salzburg WKÖ boss.
