Works council chiefs and unionists are closely observing developments at Schlecker as the German drugstore chain revealed plans to sell its international business. Schlecker officials announced yesterday (Mon) they wanted to put the firm’s foreign activities for sale to ensure meeting creditors’ demands. The Ehingen-based enterprise started controlled insolvency procedures last month. Schlecker, which runs […]
Federal Railways (ÖBB) works council chief Roman Hebenstreit has called on company bosses to show more honesty regarding the firm’s workforce level and staff salaries. Hebenstreit said on Saturday ÖBB continued cooperating with external enterprises about various services such as security at railroad construction sites while planning to lower the number of ÖBB staff by […]
A real estate manager has said he expects Viennese property prices to climb further. Johannes Meran, who heads the administration board of Vienna-based property developer Conwert Immobilien Invest AG (Conwert), told the Kurier newspaper today (Mon): “I think the price for owner-occupied apartments in Vienna will continue to rise. Increases of five to 10 per […]
Austrian Airlines (AUA) has confirmed plans to freeze staff’s wages. Speculations about which measures new AUA chief Jaan Albrecht has in mind as part of his cost reduction strategy have made the rounds for some weeks. Now a spokesman for the company disclosed that the plan was to abolish terms in contracts which guaranteed employees […]
The Labour Chamber (AK) has criticised real estate managers over sharp price hikes. The organisation said yesterday (Weds) that rents for flats rose by 34.5 per cent on average between 2001 and 2010 while the inflation climbed by just 21 per cent at the same time. AK officials called on property dealers to stop charging […]
The pressure is increasing on People’s Party (ÖVP) Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich as he keeps refusing to reduce spending on the agricultural sector. The environment and agriculture minister claimed yesterday (Tues) subsidies on the domestic agricultural industry were ensuring farmers’ existence. He warned that cuts could ruin the Austrian agricultural sector. His appeal comes after […]
A downturn of the economy could lead to an increase of illicit work in Austria, an expert on the issue has warned. Friedrich Schneider of the Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU) said yesterday (Tues) he expected illicit employment to decline by 1.1 per cent this year compared to 2011 if the domestic economy stabilised. Schneider […]
A leading airline caterer will soon provide food for Federal Railways (ÖBB) customers, according to a newspaper. Die Presse reports today (Weds) that ÖBB picked DO&CO to manage on-board catering services of its long-distance trains from April. The state-funded railway company and the Viennese gastronomy enterprise were unavailable for comment. ÖBB is expected to reveal […]
Around 3,000 people may lose their jobs in Austria as a leading drugstore chain declared itself bankrupt. It was reported last Friday that discounter Schlecker may be forced to stop operating due to declining turnover. The German company announced yesterday (Mon) it opted for starting controlled insolvency procedures in a bid to stay in business. […]
It will take another two years until the Austrian economy grows by two per cent, a Viennese institute has warned. The Institute for Economic Research’s (WIFO) five-year forecast – which was presented yesterday (Mon) – shows that the Austrian economy could grow by two per cent from 2013 to 2014. WIFO research reveals that the […]