24 June, 2011Obituary
During his long service for the trade union movement at the international level Werner spent most of his energy building up trade unions in India and in Western and Northern Africa, as well as in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
He was an excellent analytical observer of the political and social development in the regions under his responsibility. During his last years as active Assistant General Secretary of the IMF Werner built up contacts and relations to trade unions in Congo and most of the West African countries. He was the one that brought those organizations into the IMF at the beginning of the nineties.
When he started working for the IMF in 1971 (he was then special adviser to Otto Brenner, one of the most renowned trade union leaders of Germany) he brought and shared all his experience and know-how from one of the most powerful trade unions in the world.
Werner was Assistant General Secretary for the IMF from 1972 until 1989, and was also responsible for the Electrical & Electronics Department.
He was a good diplomat, a quality that was much needed those days, and that he always combined with his gentle personality.
Werner is survived by his wife, his two sons, and his granddaughter.