Fritz Verzetnitsch
{{Short description|Austrian trade unionist (1945–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Fritz Verzetnitsch
| image = 2011_Fritz_Verzetnitsch_(5884776780)_(cropped).jpg
| caption = Verzetnitsch in 2011
| 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 = {{birth date|1945|5|22|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Vienna, Allied-occupied Austria
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|7|18|1945|5|22|df=yes}}
| death_place =
| 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.{{cite web |title=Fritz Verzetnitsch |url=https://www.munzinger.de/search/portrait/Fritz+Verzetnitsch/0/18338.html |website=Munzinger |access-date=24 May 2021}}
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.[http://www.iisg.nl/archives/nl/files/e/10748348full.php#N10278 European Trade Union Confederation Archives; Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis]
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.{{Cite web |last=krone.at |date=2024-07-18 |title=Former ÖGB President Fritz Verzetnitsch dies |url=https://www.krone.at/3462339 |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Kronen Zeitung |language=en}}
References
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{{succession box|title=President of the Austrian Trade Union Federation|years=1987–2006|before=Anton Benya|after=Rudolf Hundstorfer}}
{{succession box|title=President of the European Trade Union Confederation|years=1993–2003|before=Norman Willis|after=Cándido Méndez Rodríguez}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Verzetnitsch, Fritz}}
Category:Austrian trade union leaders
Category:Members of the 17th National Council (Austria)
Category:Members of the 18th National Council (Austria)
Category:Members of the 19th National Council (Austria)
Category:Members of the 20th National Council (Austria)
Category:Members of the 21st National Council (Austria)
Category:Members of the 22nd National Council (Austria)