Austria: 18,000 Lift Co Employees Receive 3.1 Percent More Pay

The Austrian cable car industry successfully concluded the fourth round of collective bargaining negotiations with the vida union. Despite challenging conditions, the vida negotiating team, led by Andreas Hochwimmer, chairman of the Cable Cars Professional Group Committee within the vida union, was able to secure a 3.1 percent wage increase on the collective agreement starting July 1, 2025. The new collective agreement is valid until April 30, and the starting salary has been raised to €2,138 gross per month.

"For the first time, we were able to successfully negotiate a Sunday bonus for employees in our industry during the summer months," says Hochwimmer, who is also chairman of the central works council at Bergbahnen Kitzbühel. The Sunday bonus will be paid during the summer season from May 1 to October 31.

Kajetan Uriach, regional director of the vida Salzburg trade union, emphasized the secure and stable nature of the social partnership in the cable car industry following the conclusion of the collective agreement: "Despite the tough course, this year's negotiations were consistently characterized by mutual respect and demonstrated that the negotiating partners can meet on equal terms in this sector, which is so important for Austria."

During peak seasonal periods, the Austrian cable car industry employs around 18,000 people in 250 cable car companies. The industry also secures important jobs in tourism regions.