Feb 07, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. Trade unions and employers of the Austrian paper and cardboard industry agreed on a 2.3% increase of the average salary for their 9,000 employees, effective from March 1, 2005. The new collective labour agreement will be valid for one year. According to Franz Bittner, head of the industry trade union, the new agreement is acceptable. As expected this year's negotiations had been difficult but both sides managed to reach an agreement during the second round of the talks.