Solidarity with Mass Union Action in Austria

Posted to the IUF website 06-May-2003

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Austria's national trade union center �GB has called for mass workplace action today, May 6, to protest the center-right government's plan to unilaterally impose major changes in the country's pension and social security systems. Draft legislation proposed by Chancellor Sch�ssel would raise the legal retirement age by 6 years and ultimately cut pensions by as much as 40% for certain categories of pensioners.

Union proposals for pension system reform have been systematically rejected by the governing coalition, prompting the national union center to call for mass strikes and discussions of the government proposals in every enterprise throughout the country. Transport and other workers took strike action already on Monday, April 5, indicating the depth of popular opposition to the government's plans. Unions and other groups are preparing a mass demonstration in Vienna for May 13.