Harrer against Herk

Next attack against Styrian chamber boss

(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz, Krone KREATIV)

After his public criticism of President Josef Herk in the previous week, the summer quiet was over at the Styrian Chamber of Commerce. Now Vinzenz Harrer follows up in an interview with "Krone".

"Krone": Mr. Harrer, your criticism of Josef Herk and the events at the Chamber of Commerce last week came at a time when the President was on vacation. Coincidence?
Vinzenz Harrer: This has absolutely nothing to do with Josef Herk's vacation. I have pointed out several times that I am missing the clarification after the fee affair.

But according to those responsible, everything has been done to clear up the matter, even a transparency commission has been set up. Why is that not enough for you?
There has never been a final report from the transparency commission. Then this commission was only appointed for the Wirtschaftsbund and not for the Chamber. From my point of view, nothing happened there. Except that the compensation was published. And there was never any information about who was on the commission, you had to find out first. Essentially, the only thing that came out was that Sepp Herk was stripped of his 4000 euros. Which leads me to ask why he doesn't have to pay back the 200,000 euros he has received so far?

Vinzenz Harrer.

(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

You also criticize the fact that decisions in the Chamber are made in secret ...
For example, the monthly increase in compensation for the President from 4400 euros to 6600 euros was only decided in the Executive Committee. To date, there has been no decision in the extended executive committee, where the division heads also sit. I would suspect bias if they were to increase their own salaries. And I would go further.

To what extent?
As far as the amount of the salary is concerned, and not forgetting the 2,000 euros for Herk's honorary title in the WB at national level, I think we need to discuss whether this is still compensation or already remuneration. And if it is, then this remuneration is also subject to employer and employee contributions.

Is Josef Herk still acceptable to you? After all, you expressed your confidence in him last year.
Yes, on the condition that the matter is fully investigated. I was the only one who expressed confidence with the words "with a heavy heart". If things that are also in the air - such as the private use of company vehicles, the cost explosion of the site development, corona aid and many more - are not clarified seamlessly on the Chamber and WB side and by unbiased, cross-party committees, then he is not acceptable to me. And as far as the next period is concerned, Josef Herk is 65 in the election year and therefore retired.

No summer rest in the Styrian Chamber of Commerce.

(Bild: Christian Jauschowetz)

You also sharply criticized WKO Director Karl-Heinz Dernoscheg, who then threatened you with legal consequences.
I am simply not of the opinion that the director has to fly after delegations worldwide and represent them, but that he has to manage a house with 300 employees and not make policy himself.

What's the next step for the Chamber of Commerce?
The Executive Committee needs to be restructured, because otherwise you won't get out of this mess. Then the committees should definitely be expanded so that decisions are no longer made on a small scale. And we must finally address issues that are also of interest to entrepreneurs outside the company. Many members rightly criticize the fact that they don't feel enough representation of their interests. Ultimately, there is also too little presence as a counterpart to politics.