- Title: AUSTRIA: WORKERS DOWN TOOLS OVER GOVERNMENT PLANS TO RAISE RETIREMENT AGE.
- Date: 6th May 2003
- Summary: (W4) VIENNA, AUSTRIA (MAY 6, 2003) (ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS: POSTAL TRUCKS PARKED IN FRONT OF POST OFFICE; EMPTY MAILING COUNTER; POSTER ANNOUNCING WORKERSS STRIKE; EMPTY PACKAGES AREA (5 SHOTS) 0.17 2. MV: LEADER OF FEDERATION OF AUSTIRAN UNIONS FRITZ VERZETNITSCH SHAKING HANDS WITH WORKER, CHATTING 0.23 3. GV/PAN: WORKERS INSIDE HANGAR AT POST OFFICE 0.31 4. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (German) LEADER OF NATIONAL FEDERATION OF AUSTRIAN UNIONS FRITZ VERZETNITSCH ADDRESSING WORKERS, SAYING: "We will give a clear signal to the government today and we are telling the employers that their money is at stake here as well" 0.41 5. CU/GV: WORKERS LISTENING TO UNION LEADER SPEECH (2 SHOTS) 0.48 6. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (German) FRITZ VERZETNITSCH SAYING: "Better to be late for work once than having your pension cut for the rest of your life. We have to give a clear signal. Thank you for coming and good luck" 1.01 7. MV: WORKERS APPLAUDING 1.03 8. GV: UNION LEADER LEAVING POST OFFICE 1.07 9. GV/MV: METAL INDUSTRY WORKERS AND PRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS PROTESTING IN STREET; POLICE LOOKING ON; BANNER READING: 'NOT WITH US!' (3 SHOTS) 1.16 10. MV: MAN HOLDING NEWSPAPER, HEADLINE READING: 'GENERAL STRIKE NOW!' 1.20 11. MV/GV: SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER ALFRED GUSENBAUER SHAKING HANDS WITH WORKERS; MAKING SPEECH TO WORKERS (2 SHOTS) 1.32 12. MV/GV/PAN: MEDICAL WORKERS AT PROTEST MEETING, WIDE OF PODIUM AND SPEAKER (5 SHOTS) 1.51 13. GV: YOUNG MAN PARKING BICYCLE; GROUP OF PEOPLE ON BICYCLES (3 SHOTS) 2.10 14. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (German), ELDERLY MAN: "This strike was necessary already two years ago. We are being robbed continously and they keep on saying in the Parliament this is democracy. I am an old man and they can only make me laugh. We had this kind od democracy in 1934 and 1938 and that is why I support the strike". 2.33 15. GV/MCU/GV/PAN: GROUP OF STUDENTS HAVING PICNIC ON RAILWAYS TRACKS; VARIOUS OF STUDENTS (4 SHOTS0 3.01 16. GV: HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE IN STREET 3.13 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 21st May 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
- Country: Austria
- Reuters ID: LVA4LV5K96WLMSI1CZRR005885MO
- Story Text: Over a million workers in Austria have downed tools in
protest at government plans to raise the national retirement
age to 65 and drastically change the way monthly pension
pay-outs would be calculated.
Urged by the National Federation of Austrian Unions,
workers went to their workplaces on Tuesday morning (May 6)
but spent the day discussing unpopular reforms rather than
working.
The strike kicked off at 6 oclock in the morning at the
city's main postal depot, merging later with other unions to
form small demonstarions around Vienna.
Buses, trams and subway trains were not running, and
blockades at main entry point to the city kept out commuters
who attempted to make the trip in by car.
With the main arteries in the town centre remarkably
traffic-free, the only bottlenecks were on bikepaths and
pavements as the Viennese made the most of the sunny weather
to stroll, cycle or rollerblade to work.
Pupils and students took advantage of the teachers
striketo spill into the citys parks and sunbathe, joined by
civilservants and workers from many firms in the private
sector.
The unions announced mass protests for May 13 if
thegovernment does not drop the reform plan.
Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel introduced a draft law on
April 29 that seeks to prolong the period of
pensioncontributions from 40 to 45 years and to gradually
eliminate early retirement by imposing heavy penalties.
The plan has outraged the public, the socialist opposition
and even some members of the governing coalition in a country
where on average, men retire at 59 years and women at 57.
The government reforms were partly prompted by a report
from the European Commission in December which warned that
unless Austria urgently implemented reforms it could run out
of money to pay pensions in the coming decades.
As in several other European countries, Austria's current
pay-as-you go pension system is threatened by the combination
of an aging population that requires more pension cash and a
low birth rate, wgucg will result in fewer workers to pay
contributions.
A survey published by th eleftist daily newspaper Der
Standard said Scuessels popularity has plummeted from 53
percent in February to 34 percent this month over the pension
law.
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