Viennese Social Democratic (SPÖ) Financial Affairs Councillor Renate Brauner has stressed that “immense challenges” are ahead for the city. Brauner told the Kurier today (Fri) that the Viennese SPÖ-Greens coalition would try to avoid a decrease of service quality to citizens despite the need to save one billion Euros in the coming five years. Brauner […]
Tag: sector
Berlakovich blocks possible cutbacks
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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 […]
Austrians brace for harsh health reform
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The People’s Party (ÖVP) wants to drastically reduce Austria’s health sector spending. ÖVP whip Karlheinz Kopf said yesterday (Thurs) he was currently trying to convince the Social Democrats’ (SPÖ) debt brake negotiators that there was a savings potential of 1.8 billion Euros until 2017. SPÖ Health Minister Alois Stöger remained tight-lipped regarding details of the […]
Metal industry labour dispute settled
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Around 165,000 Austrian metal industry workers will earn 4.2 per cent more from next month. Unionists and company representatives agreed about stronger increases of low salaries and one-off payments to employees of the sector in a 14-hour discussion at the headquarters of the Federal Economy Chamber (WKO) in Vienna which ended at 4am this morning […]
Vienna jobless rate shoots up
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Viennese politicians and businesspeople have failed to reduce the city’s jobless rate. Official figures presented today (Fri) show that the number of unemployed people residing in the Austrian capital rose by 6.9 per cent. Overall, nearly 74,000 Viennese citizens were out of work this month. The Federal Labour Market Service (AMS) explained Vienna and Carinthia […]
Renaissance ups Porr stake
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Turkish construction company Renaissance has increased its interest in Austria’s third-biggest building company. Porr AG announced today (Thurs) that its cooperation partner acquired an additional 5,700 shares. This purchase means Renaissance now holds 10.07 per cent in the Vienna-based company. Construction businessman Karl Heinz Strauss – who succeeded Wolfgang Hesoun as executive chief of Porr […]
Electricity price hikes ahead
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An energy sector expert has warned that electricity prices will climb further. The Austrian Energy Agency said today (Thurs) its price index for next month was 7.6 per cent higher than figures of July 2010. It added that the index rose from June 2011 to July of the same year by 1.7 per cent. These […]
A top banker has been accused of “showing personal characteristics of greed and arrogance” after he branded Austrias political elite as “too stupid and cowardly.”Erste Group Bank AG (Erste Bank) boss Andreas Treichl incited an intense discussion about the decision-making of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the Peoples Party (ÖVP) when he claimed at a business […]
Fewer than two per cent of Austrians are changing their electricity providers to save costs, it has been revealed.Walter Boltz, head of market watchdog E-Control, said today (Thurs): “No more than 1.7 per cent of households are changing their electricity providers each year despite the liberalisation of the sector (in 2001).”Speaking to the Kurier newspaper, […]
Intercell names new CEO
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Struggling vaccine developer Intercell AG has presented a new company chief.The Vienna-based research firm said today (Thurs) board member Thomas Lingelbach will take over as CEO next Tuesday (10 May). Current head Gerd Zettlmeissl will leave the company “to pursue other personal and professional interests,” Intercell added.Lingelbach has been the companys COO since 2006. He […]