Klagenfurt seeks solution after A1 staff report harassment

Staff at A1 Telekom’s headquarters in Klagenfurt say they feel harassed by homeless people gathering outside the company, ORF Kärnten reported Thursday. The city plans to develop a solution with the organisations involved next week.

Harald Valent, chair of the A1 Telekom Kärnten works council, said between 30 and 50 homeless people were regularly present outside the building or on the company grounds. He said some were heavily intoxicated, used drugs and urinated or defecated in public, including behind and on cars.

Valent said people also regularly fought among themselves. His female colleagues, in particular, were afraid to leave work after dark, he said.

The works council has been in contact with the City of Klagenfurt for more than six months. The city had announced that it would deploy more social workers and street workers, but Valent said he had not noticed any change.

Caritas, which runs the Eggerheim homeless shelter at the nearby intersection, is also in talks with the city. Katrin Starc, head of its homeless assistance department, did not say how far the discussions had progressed.

Starc said it was normal for people in similar situations to gather together. Alcohol bans in parks and other public places meant they were instead congregating outside the shelter, where drinking was perhaps more tolerated, she said.

Mayor Christian Scheider’s office said he wanted to work with the organisations involved on a solution next week. Scheider is also calling for greater responsibility from the state of Carinthia, particularly financial support, as is already provided in other federal states.