At the age of 79

Former ÖGB President Fritz Verzetnitsch dies

(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

The former President of the Austrian Trade Union Federation, Fritz Verzetnitsch, has died. As announced by the SPÖ, Verzetnitsch, who came into the public eye in particular as a result of the BAWAG affair, died at the age of 79 after a serious illness. 

Verzetnitsch, a trained plumber, had succeeded Anton Benya as ÖGB President in 1987. A year earlier, he had entered the National Council for the SPÖ. 

BAWAG affair shook the Republic
During Verzetnischt's era as ÖGB President, the trade union federation was one of the most powerful institutions in Austrian domestic politics. This was shaken by the BAWAG affair, in which the ÖGB-owned bank had suffered such losses through highly speculative transactions in Caribbean tax havens that it was on the verge of insolvency. 

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In order to avert the bankruptcy, Verzetnitsch, as head of the ÖGB, assumed liability for the bank's debts by pledging the ÖGB strike fund. He did this together with ÖGB CFO Günter Weninger - also Chairman of the BAWAG Supervisory Board - without informing the ÖGB Executive Committee.

Resignation and dismissal without notice
As a result of the scandal, Verzetnitsch resigned from all his trade union and political functions in March 2006 - and was dismissed without notice by the ÖGB on April 30. Verzetnitsch took the matter to court, but failed.

Verzetntisch, who had already been repeatedly criticized for his penthouse in Vienna's city centre, was not aware of any guilt. Even though the trade unionists never warmed to him again, he never missed a major ÖGB event. He was last seen in the back rows at the national congress last year.

"Convinced trade unionist"
ÖGB President Wolfgang Katzian praised Verzetnitsch on Thursday as a "convinced trade unionist". He has always put what we have in common above what divides us and has defended workers' rights and the preservation of democracy in Austria in difficult times. SPÖ leader Andreas Babler emphasized Verzetnitsch's efforts to always take on a mediating and unifying role.

On behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, President Harald Mahrer and Secretary General Karlheinz Kopf said: "Together with him, the social partnership was able to develop better opportunities and prospects for people." Verzetnitsch's long-time companion, former Chamber President Christoph Leitl, called him "a trade unionist in the best sense of the word, who distinguished himself through his handshake quality and loyalty". Romana Deckenbacher, Chairwoman of the Christian Trade Unionists, paid tribute to his humanity and his tireless commitment to a fairer world.