ÖGB President Wolfgang Katzian complains that in the corona pandemic, more money went to the economy and agriculture than to the employees. From his point of view, it is now important to do something for them, for example by increasing unemployment benefits. The short-time work will also be necessary in the second half of the year. To overcome the financial crisis, he wants to ask wealthy people to pay, as the union chief explained on Sunday in the ORF “press hour”.
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Katzian does not consider it realistic that the economy will bring the finances back into balance on its own: “Anyone who believes that one can only grow out of the crisis lives on the moon.” First, the winners of the pandemic, the large digital corporations, would have to contribute something, with the top trade unionist expecting a European initiative. In addition, one will have to talk about the participation of large fortunes.
Regarding the relationship with the government, Katzian said that it had improved again under turquoise-green. At least one will be heard again on questions of regulatory policy, but not on questions of the future.
For the ÖGB boss, for example, an increase in unemployment benefits would be necessary: “70 percent (net replacement rate) is still little,” he said of the union's corresponding demand.
It is clear to Katzian that this instrument will still be needed after the current short-time work model expires in the middle of the year. After all, short-time work is also much cheaper than unemployment benefits. In addition, in the transition phase after the end of the pandemic, it is important to further develop partial retirement and the solo bonus model.
Furthermore, the ÖGB President wants to see various options for reducing working hours discussed. After all, he advocates that the state should employ people in certain areas.
Katzian did not want to judge whether the lockdown should be loosened further: “I do not presume to do the job of a virologist.” However, the union head demands that the government once set clear parameters according to which the decisions are made. Katzian is not satisfied with the speed of the vaccinations, which he blames partly on the government and partly on the EU.
Katzian did not want to lean on whether Finance Minister Gernot Blümel (ÖVP) should resign because of the latest accusations against him. Each representative had to decide for himself what this meant for his public credibility.
