Wages and salaries in the Propak industry will increase by 2.9 percent from 1 March 2025. The new collective agreement affects around 9,000 employees in Austria and has a term of 12 months.
After intensive negotiations, the trade association of industrial manufacturers of paper and cardboard products (Propak) and the trade union for private employees (GPA) have reached an agreement. Collectively agreed wages and salaries in the Propak industry will increase from 1 March 2025 by 2.9 percent, which corresponds to the annual inflation rate in 2024. The new collective agreement has a term of 12 months and affects around 9,000 employees of the industry.
Challenges for the industry
The wage negotiations took place under difficult economic conditions. Georg Dieter Fischer, Chairman of the Propak trade association, explained: „Our industry has not achieved any growth in recent years and has lost competitiveness due to the high development of labour costs on export markets. Ultimately, we were able to reach a compromise with this agreement that takes into account the tension between recession and inflation.“
About Propak
The professional association Propak and the association Propak Austria represent the industrial manufacturers of paper and cardboard products in Austria. 87 companies employ around 9,000 employees and process annually 1.2 million tonnes of paper and cardboard for packaging, corrugated cardboard, stationery for hygiene and household, office supplies, books, brochures and other products.
Source: Propak
