At yesterday’s general assembly, the Chamber of Labor (AK) Upper Austria presented a surprisingly positive year for itself: With 97.84 million euros, there was an increase in income of a good six percent compared to 2020 (92.12 million). In comparison, the number of members increased by only one percent to 677,522.
According to AK director Andrea Heimberger, the increase resulted from the wage increases, the increase in employment, the receipt of deferred contributions and a low insolvency rate. In addition, the proportion of non-contributory members is declining. That’s every sixth. These include the unemployed, apprentices, military service and part-time employees.
30 million euros were allocated to reserves and provisions. After personnel expenses (45 million), this item is the largest group of expenditure. These are now (with a balance sheet total of 172 million euros) at 94.5 million euros.
Renovation of the district offices
In a possible discussion about a reduction in the AK contribution, Heimberger would reply that it cannot be assumed that the development of income will continue in this way. 0.5 percent of the gross salary is currently to be paid to the AK. That’s an average of eight euros per member per month, says Heimberger.
The largest investment of 9.8 million euros was the new construction of the district office in Ried. Kirchdorf is currently being renovated, and there will soon be a need for modernization in Gmunden and Wels as well, adds Deputy Director and CFO Gerda Landsiedl. Major renovations are carried out every two years.
The advocacy group wants to return the additional income to its members through direct payments, such as a 100-euro subsidy for mandatory driving safety training for new drivers. Heimberger announced that something would come for families. The training bonus for further training is also a targeted measure.
At the General Assembly, more than 27 resolutions were voted on. AK President Andreas Stangl called for an end to the cold progression and an adjustment of all social benefits to inflation.
Source: Nachrichten
