ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

A woman is suing Vienna City Council for gender discrimination over access to public toilets.

Melanie Gradik, 27, has filed a legal complaint against the municipality because women are expected to pay to use the toilet cubicles whereas men can use the urinals for free. She claims this gender imbalance contravenes the city's anti-discrimination laws.

"I was in a park with a friend and we both needed to use the bathroom," said Gradik. "But while he could go for free, I had to pay 50 cents. I thought to myself: How is that possible?

"I want everyone to be able to use the bathroom on an equal footing. Either we all pay 50 cents or no one pays 50 cents."

Vienna has 168 publicly managed toilet facilities, 139 of which are free to use.
City authorities claim the other 29 facilities charge a fee because they employ toilet attendants on site.

"In very busy locations with intensive use, it is necessary for organisational reasons to ensure supervision in order to guarantee proper use and cleanliness," said municipality spokesperson Sandra Holzinger.

"In these facilities a fee of 50 cents for the cubicles must be paid by people of all genders. Urinals are additionally provided to prevent fouling caused by urinating in public spaces."

Gradik's lawyer Petra Laback claims that if Gradik wins her case it could set a precedent across Austria. "It would certainly have an impact on other municipalities," she said.