Social democracy in grief: Karl Dürtscher died!
Social democracy in grief: Karl Dürtscher died!
Schruns, Österreich - On May 26, 2025, the Austrian trade union movement achieved sad news: Karl Dürtscher, the federal manager and chief negotiator of the GPA union, died on Sunday. His colleagues in the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), including Federal Party chairman Andreas Babler and Federal Managing Director Klaus RASHEIM, expressed their deep regret about the loss. Babler described Dürtscher as a convinced trade unionist and upright social democrats, whose tireless commitment to the interests of employees was invaluable for the movement.
Dürtscher's expertise was widely recognized. He was considered an experienced negotiator, which brought great respect not only in the union, but also in political circles. Bablers and rarely led their sympathy to the relatives, friends and companions of Dürtschers and emphasized that his loss left a large gap.
a life for the union movement
Karl Dürtscher was born on January 17, 1961 in Schruns. After his school days, which he spent at the elementary school and secondary school, he completed apprenticeship as an office clerk from 1976 to 1979. Already in 1980 he joined Vorarlberger Zementwerke AG before moving to the union of private workers in Vienna in 1985. Here he continued his career in various positions, including a demanding role as federal manager from 2018.
His professional career is characterized by impressive commitment to union work. From 1995 to 2001 he was a member of the board of directors and presidium of the pension insurance institution and took on many other functions that underline his leading role in the trade union.
The legacy of solidarity
Die Dürtschers comes at a time when the trade union movement has to master special challenges. Historical flags and symbols of the trade union movement, such as those laid down in the tradition of the support for labor movements, are reminiscent of the values of solidarity and the struggle for employee rights. This tradition could now be particularly relevant because the movement around leaders like Dürtscher mourns and at the same time has to look for new ways to represent the interests of workers.
Not only Dürtscher's commitment will be remembered, but also what he stood for- the tireless work to improve living and working conditions for all employees. His use will continue to serve as inspiration for future generations of the trade union movement.
The union GPA and the entire social democratic community stand together in this difficult time and are reminiscent of Karl Dürtscher, a man whose life's work will go down in the history of the Austrian trade union movement.
Further information about Dürtscher and his merits can be found on the pages of OTS , gpa and DetailsOrt Schruns, Österreich Quellen
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