Trade Union urges tax reform

The ÖGB's executive board wants to start a campaign for a broad tax relief for employees.

Their aim, according to the daily Die Presse newspaper, is to urge the government and especially the conservative People's Party (ÖVP) to reduce payroll taxes by introducing a property tax instead.

It remains to be seen how the ÖVP's trade unionists will react to the campaign. 

On the one hand they also argue in favour of a tax relief but on the other hand they are not likely to oppose their party leader Vice Chancellor Michael Spindelegger.

It is expected that they want to exclude the middle class from paying property taxes.

The regional workers' chambers (AK) of Tyrol and Vorarlberg, which are dominated by ÖVP trade unionists, have started an initiative to introduce a tax relief immediately.

There is also a signature campaign initiated by SPÖ pensioners for a tax relief and an "adjustment of pensions without limitations".

Furthermore the opposition party Team Stronach has set up a hotline "against tax misspending".