Farewell to Rainer Wimmer: recognized a life's work in grief

Farewell to Rainer Wimmer: recognized a life's work in grief

On July 3, 2025, the municipality of Hallstatt said goodbye to Rainer Wimmer, the former mayor and long -standing National Council, who died on June 24 at the age of 69 after a short, serious illness. His legacy in politics and union is highly valued by relatives, friends and companions, which was shown in the impressive number of mourners who appeared for the celebration. Among them also found numerous saline colleagues, party friends and trade unionists who wanted to have the last honor.

The funeral procession impressively led from the update of the Evangelical Parish Church and then to the market square, where Pastor Dankfried Kirsch gave a sensitive and personal address. Mayor Alexander Scheutz, Reinhold Binder, the federal chairman of the Produktion union Pro-Ge, and Alois Stöger, former social minister, appreciated Wimmer's significant merit. Binder summarized the feeling of mourning guests in an emotional way: "Rainer, you miss you!" This sentence will undoubtedly remain in the memory of many.

a life for employees: inside

Rainer Wimmer appeared as the first federal chairman of the Pro-GE in 2009 and played a central role in the metal industry's collective agreement negotiations and in mining as chief negotiators. He was known for his commitment and persistence in wage negotiations, even in times of crisis. The 24-hour marathon in 2015, which was one of the longest autumn wage rounds in this area

his commitment for the employees: inside was tireless. He led numerous wage negotiations and was significantly involved in when an agreement was reached in the first round of the collective agreement negotiations during the pandemic in 2020. His commitment to industrial workplaces in the saltes, especially after the EU accession in 1995, is unforgettable. Wimmer, who began his career as a mine electrical engineer, was an important player in Austrian trade union life and was awarded the "Great Golden Mereal for Merit for the Republic of Austria" for his services.

a lasting inheritance

The presence of Minister of Women Eva-Maria Holzleitner, SPÖ club chairman Philipp Kucher, ÖGB President Wolfgang Katzian as well as President of the Landtag Peter Binder and AK President Andreas Stangl illustrated the far-reaching influence that Wimmer left. After retiring from the Pro-Ge in June 2023, he was appointed honorary chairman, which impressively underlined its importance for the union.

Rainer Wimmer will not only be remembered as a politician and trade unionist, but also as a person who was always concerned with the well -being of the workers. His role as a tireless fighter for the interests of the workers will continue to live in the hearts of those who had the privilege to know him and work with him. The funeral service in Hallstatt was a suitable, honorable escort for a man who did so much for the people in his community.

as well as meinbezirk.at and Proge.at , the loss of Rainer Wimmer is painfully felt by many in the region, and his legacy will have a long time influence on the trade union in Austria.