Fritz Verzetnitsch Explained

Fritz Verzetnitsch
Office:President of the Austrian Trade Union Federation
Term Start:1987
Term End:2006
Predecessor:Anton Benya
Successor:Rudolf Hundstorfer
Office1:President of the European Trade Union Confederation
Term Start1:1993
Term End1:2003
Predecessor1:Norman Willis
Successor1:Cándido Méndez Rodríguez
Birth Date:22 May 1945
Birth Place:Vienna, Allied-occupied Austria
Party:Social Democratic Party of Austria

Friedrich Verzetnitsch (22 May 1945 – 18 July 2024) was an Austrian trade unionist.

Biography

Born in Vienna, Verzetnitsch completed an apprenticeship as a pipe fitter and began working for a small business. In 1961, he joined the Union of Metal, Mining and Energy. He became active in the Austrian Trade Union Federation's (ÖGB) youth organisation, and from 1963 was the president of its Vienna region. In 1970, he began working full-time for the ÖGB, and in 1983 he was appointed general secretary of its executive.[1]

In 1986, Verzetnitsch was elected as a Social Democratic Party of Austria member of the National Council. In 1987, he was elected as president of the ÖGB. From 1993 until 2003, he also served as president of the European Trade Union Confederation.[2]

In 2000, Verzetnitsch secretly used the ÖGB's strike fund to guarantee the debts of the BAWAG bank, which the ÖGB owned. This became public knowledge in 2006, and the resulting scandal led Verzetnitsch to resign all his positions.

Verzetnitsch died on 18 July 2024, at the age of 79.[3]

References

  1. Web site: Fritz Verzetnitsch . Munzinger . 24 May 2021.
  2. http://www.iisg.nl/archives/nl/files/e/10748348full.php#N10278 European Trade Union Confederation Archives; Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis
  3. Web site: krone.at . 2024-07-18 . Former ÖGB President Fritz Verzetnitsch dies . 2024-07-18 . . en.