Harassing firms must pay, pensioners say

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Business

Austria’s pensioners have called on the government to introduce laws which would up the pressure on “bullying” companies. Andreas Khol, who heads the country’s Association of Conservative Pensioners, said: “Firms which bully employees and force them to retire prior to the regular pension age should be obliged to come up for the costs the state […]

Viva reveals Austrian visions

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Business

A German music television broadcaster has disclosed plans to introduce Austrian contents. Viva officials said yesterday (Weds) they wanted to add more music by Austrian artists to the programme soon. The plan is to set up Viva Austria, a specialised programme which screens Austrian chart shows on the same channel as Viva. Around 15 per […]

Media Markt test out womens areas in their shops

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Business

The electronics company Media Markt wants to create a new target group out of women. In Austria the company is now testing the integration of special shopping-zones for women. Since 40 per cent of their customers are women, they want to customize the shopping experience for them as well. With theme weeks and possibilities to […]

AUA works committee accepts cutbacks

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Business

The works council of Austrian Airlines (AUA) has given the all-clear to planned wage cuts. Works committee leaders informed the airline’s 1,500 pilots, stewards and stewardesses yesterday evening (Tues) that they decided to say yes to the salary reform. AUA bosses planned to force the carrier’s pilots to work under contracts similar to those of […]

Makeover for VIA terminals

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Business

The terminals of Vienna International Airport (VIA or VIE) will be renovated or rebuilt, according to Flughafen Wien AG (FW). Bosses of FW – which manages Austria’s biggest airport – said yesterday (Tues) they wanted to refurbish or reconstruct VIA’s three terminals in the coming years. They also informed shareholders that the opening of a […]

AUA accord possible despite contract reform

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Business

Austrian Airlines (AUA) chiefs and works committee officials are fighting for a consensual solution regarding the planned austerity measures. Lufthansa, which owns AUA since 2009, wants the Viennese aviation company to achieve savings of 220 million Euros this year following last year’s losses of almost 60 million Euros. The AUA supervisory board decided last week […]

Faymann plans Stiftungsrat restructuring

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Business

Social Democratic (SPÖ) Chancellor Werner Faymann considers a reform of national broadcaster ORF’s Stiftungsrat for the foreseeable future. The Stiftungsrat is a council with 35 members which has a function similar to a supervisory board. It is widely seen as an essential tool to Austria’s parties when it comes to trying to make themselves heard […]

Fight against firms’ tax evasion to intensify

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Business

The government wants to crack down on illegal companies. Nineteen people were found guilty of various business crimes after being exposed by a special task force since April 2010. The investigative group of police officers, experts on cross-country corruption and labour market developments was established by Social Democratic (SPÖ) Labour Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer to keep […]

Baumax opens 15th store in Romania

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Business

Building and DIY chain bauMax have opened a new superstore in Cluj (Klausenburg) in Rumania. Working together with Raiffeisen-Leasing the new location was built and opened the business after just a year of building time. The new store offers 15,000 m² and is the 15th store that the company has in Rumania including one that […]

AUA supervisory board finalises contract correction

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Business

Austrian Airlines (AUA) head Jaan Albrecht has promised that customers will not be negatively affected by the firm’s contract reform. The supervisory board of the loss-making carrier decided yesterday (Thurs) to annul the contracts of all pilots and cabin crew employees. AUA bosses hope to save 45 million Euros a year that way. Unionists and […]