VIENNA (AA) – Scores of education sector employees took to the streets of the Austrian capital on Tuesday to demand higher salaries and better working conditions.

Armed with placards and banners, protesters marched along the historic Mariahilfer Strasse, Vienna’s main shopping street.

They called for salary hikes of at least 15%, double of the planned 7.5% increases, and a maximum weekly work time of 35 hours.

The protesters also urged authorities to take steps to resolve the shortage of personnel in Austria’s education sector.

The protest culminated at Ballhausplatz, a square in central Vienna where the Federal Chancellery is located.​​​​​​​

Austria’s annual consumer inflation was at 10.5% in September, according to official data.

The figure increased from 9.3% in August to exceed the 10% mark for the first time since 1952.

Inflation in Austria is being fueled by surging prices of energy, housing, water, transport, and food and non-alcoholic beverages, the country’s statistical office said.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz