“The idea of only civil servants at the desk is not true. The teachers in hotspot schools are also public servants,” the Momentum Institute makes clear in a press release.
They are the teachers who demonstrated in front of the Education Directorate a few weeks ago under the motto: “We can’t do it anymore!” Teachers who complain about overwork, a lack of staff and bureaucracy. It’s the police officers in front of you “critical staff shortage” warn. The 25 percent demand more staff and “performance-related salaries”. The conclusion at the federal level also provides guidelines for employees at state and municipal level with their own collective agreements. Kindergarten teachers and nursing staff, for example, also benefit from fair qualifications at the federal level.
These professions must be upgraded in order to secure our state and our coexistence. A zero wage round, however, would devalue them.
NEOS shoot against their own core issue of education
Also at least exciting: one day before agreement on the salary agreement, the NEOS were announced for their reform plans in the education sector criticized. They sell this as their core issue and in the current coalition negotiations with the ÖVP and SPÖ, the education department seems within reach. The neoliberal party definitely has ideas: free lunch for all children up to 14 years old, smaller groups in kindergartens and more staff. According to calculations, these and other measures would cost an additional 4.5 billion euros annually. There are also 4.1 billion one-off expenses. Now to raise the mood against salary increases – also for teachers – seems inconclusive. Especially if you want to attract more people to the area.
According to the neoliberals, a zero wage round would have been necessary given the high expenditure compared to government revenue. Yes, the budget deficit is high. Austria is threatened with EU criminal proceedings. But saving on those jobs that make our coexistence possible, which are already poorly paid and therefore find too few staff, is fatal. The areas are already threatening to collapse. Nothing less than our coexistence depends on them.
There are better places to save
Yes, unnecessary expenses should be saved as much as possible. You can discuss what is essential and what is dispensable. The term “systemically relevant” already says that systemically relevant professions are indispensable. Anyone who has a different opinion should at least say so clearly instead of writing “20,000 new teachers” on the election posters.
In the interests of a fairer, sustainable society, savings could be made, for example, on climate-damaging subsidies such as diesel privileges or commuter allowances. Around six billion euros According to the economic research institute, Austria spends on this annually.
Other ways to address the budget deficit would be taxes. The neoliberals vehemently defend themselves against new taxes. But there is huge potential in this that most of our society would benefit from.
A wealth tax would – depending on the model – be around five billion flush into the state treasury. A tax on inheritances and gifts would bring in another billion euros. Stronger taxes on real estate and land would bring in additional money. We are currently giving corporations billions through tax cuts – every year. That could be reversed. And all of this would particularly affect the richest in our society.
The majority would benefit. For example, by paying nursing staff or teachers appropriately, improving the value of the jobs and attracting more skilled workers. And so we can improve our coexistence.
