From the pandemic to prosperity for everyone! NGOs and trade unions take 6 steps

On the occasion of tomorrow's day of services of general interest on 23.6. seven Austrian trade unions and NGOS publish a joint future package: "From the pandemic to prosperity for everyone"

“The COVID19 pandemic has exacerbated crises such as high unemployment and rising inequality while the climate emergency persists. We therefore need a future package that creates tens of thousands of jobs, protects all people from poverty, puts an end to double workloads and overloads for women, improves working conditions in all sectors and transforms the economy into a sustainable, climate-friendly and socially just economy, ”explain the organizations .

Younion_Die Daseinsgewerkschaft, the production union PRO-GE, the union vida, Attac Austria, GLOBAL 2000, Fridays for Future and the Catholic workers' movement present 6 steps for an economy that provides for all and enables prosperity for all.

1: Poverty-proof basic security for a life in dignity

It's about coping with the crisis fairly and not leaving anyone behind. For this reason, unemployment benefits, emergency assistance and minimum income must be increased for a poverty-proof basic security.

2: Expand the public health system & improve working conditions

Applause is not enough for workers in the health and care sector. Tens of thousands of new nurses are to be trained with a health and care package. In addition, better working conditions and shorter working hours are needed for the entire health and care sector.

3: Expand public services and create public jobs

With a community or public services package worth billions of euros, existing public infrastructures are to be secured and expanded, and privatized infrastructures are to be returned to the municipalities.

4: Expanding climate-friendly infrastructures, restructuring companies

The expansion of public mobility and renewable energies, the promotion of rail freight transport and the thermal renovation of buildings create thousands of new jobs. For emission-intensive sectors such as the automotive industry and aviation, a transformation fund as well as exit and transformation concepts are required. Trade unions, employees and those affected must be involved.

5: Strengthening regional economic cycles - enabling more local value creation

For a climate-friendly, resource-conserving and supply-safe economy, essential goods and services such as food, medicines, clothing must continue to be produced or be produced again in Austria or the EU. The same applies to basic materials such as steel or future technologies such as photovoltaics and batteries, which are important for maintaining public infrastructure. An Austrian and EU-wide industrial policy must shorten supply chains and build or expand production capacities. In addition, binding supply chain laws are necessary to ensure compliance with human rights.

6: Shorten normal working hours - allow more time for everyone

Normal working hours must be reduced significantly - with full payroll and wages. This enables new jobs, better working conditions, fair wages and a fairer distribution, evaluation and appreciation of all work.

“These six steps must be developed and implemented together with the people, their interest groups and civil society organizations. Only in this way can our democratic institutions be further developed and confidence in the political system rebuilt, ”explain the organizations.

Long version (pdf)