• 1969-1971: Technical employee • 1971-1973:
Trade union secretary • Secretary-General (1973-1984) and President (1984-2000) of the Textile, Clothing and Leather Workers' Union • since 2000: Vice-President of the Metal and Textile Union • since 2004: Vice-President of the International Textile, Clothing and Leather Workers' Association • 1978-1989: Vice-Chairman of the General Accident Insurance Institution (
AUVA) • 1978-1989: Chairman of the accident insurance committee, Main Association of Austrian Social Insurance Institutions • 1987-1999: Chairman of the
EU Committee, Austrian Federation of Trade Unions • 1989-1992: Federal Minister for Health, the Public Service,
Sport and
Consumer Protection • 1993-2001: Chairman of the Consumer Information Association • 1995-1996: Member of the
Economic and Social Committee of the European Communities • 1996-2009:
Member of the European Parliament == External links ==