Willy Buschak: CV
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Willy Buschak
(end
of term of office 31/03/2008)
Deputy Director, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
Willy Buschak studied history at the University of Bochum, where he attained
an MA and PhD. After an early career in research, he joined the central administration
of the German trade union for Food, Beverages and Restaurant Workers in Hamburg,
where he was responsible for all matters related to worker involvement. In
1991, he was elected Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation
(ETUC), based in Brussels and was re-elected to this post in 1995 and 1999.
In this position, he was responsible for health and safety, consumer policy,
environment, and the information society (he negotiated the European framework
agreement on telework in 2002). During his time at the ETUC, information and
consultation of workers, worker involvement and merger control were his main
areas of interest. He was also responsible for the financial management and
administration of the ETUC. During his twelve years in Brussels, he travelled
all over Europe and worked with many international organisations such as the
ILO, TUAC and the OECD. In 2003, he was appointed Deputy Director of the European
Foundation in Dublin. After the sudden death of Director Raymond-Pierre Bodin,
he took on the challenge of Acting Director from July 2003 to December 2005.
Author of numerous publications on the social history of the 20th century,
his most recent books deal with globalisation in the 1930s and German trade
unions and India.
During the twelve years he spent in Brussels, forged deep
roots in Belgium, which he considers as his second native country. He remains
an enthusiastic supporter of the soccer team of his home town, VFL Bochum.
Willy Buschak's term of office ended on 31/03/2008.