1 May 2022

Not only on Labour Day: Weisser Ring raises with the ongoing campaign 'Violence must not become fashion' together with supporters like the trade union awareness for the legal rights of workers

Today on 1st May, the Labour Day (or International Workers' Day) is celebrated all around the world. In Austria, especially the Austrian Trade Union Federation (Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund, ÖGB) which is defined as labour union for the representation of the interests of employees, looks back on this day to the achievements and ongoing efforts. Self-employed working people such as independent journalists don't fall into the defined target group which has also effects on for example planned new structures for governmental media fundings which are announced to be bonded in future on the employment of journalists. But journalism is a special field and can't be compared in many cases with the work of - for example - employed texters.

The Austrian Trade Union Federation stands for rights of employees and protects them also in front of court. In Austria, ÖGB representatives also appear in court in labor law negotiations. It's one of the benefits of the insurance for members for example in the case of psychological or physical violence.

Violence at work is an issue in Austria. For raising the awareness for the legal rights of workers, the victim support, prevention and research association 'Weisser Ring' has started recently some days before the 'World Day for Safety and Health at Work' (28 April) the campaign 'Gewalt darf nicht in Mode kommen' (Violence must not become fashion) with an intervention in public space on 25 April at the shopping boulevard Mariahilferstrasse. On the same day (April 28), the trade union movement worldwide commemorates dead and injured workers on the 'Workers Memorial Day'. The ÖGB in Austria for example made in 2022 aware of carcinogenic working material and called for an update of the European law to protect employees.
The 'Weisser Ring' initiative focuses on injuries which happen often in places that are hidden for the public in moments without witnesses and effects like depression which are rarely communicated by victims out of fear of being 'officially' hurt again in front of a larger group. This fear protects the perpetrator. One of the mentioned scenarios of violence is where direct contacts with customers happen such as in stores or in hospitals. The attacks range from simple to sexist or racist insults and to physical violence, is reported by the Weisser Ring.

Image: The mannequins of the campaign 'Gewalt darf nicht in Mode kommen' (Violence must not become fashion) dressed in profession typical clothing respectively workwear smeared with swear words were placed by the victim support association 'Weisser Ring' (with own victim emergency hotline) on 25 April 2022 at the shopping boulevard Mariahilfer Strasse. The intervention in public space makes people aware of violence at work and the legal rights of workers. The campaign, which is supported by professionals and organizations like photographer Oliver Gast, the fashion retail chain C&A, or the Vida trade union (employees in the fields transport and service such as employees from railway companies, pilots and flight attendants, hairdressers and beauticians, or paramedics and hospital staff,...), will be continued in the next weeks with activities in social media. Additionally, ads in printed media with images shooted by fashion photographer Oliver Gast will make people aware of the issue.
Photo: Weisser Ring - Gewalt darf nicht in Mode kommen. © Seven Film- und Postproduction GmbH.