Left Party Politicians Pay Tribute to Late Trade Unionist and Former PDS Member Manfred Müller
In a joint statement, Left Party politicians Bodo Ramelow, Gregor Gysi and Dietmar Bartsch have paid tribute to the late Manfred Müller, a former trade unionist and member of the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS). Müller, who passed away, was a key figure in the party’s successful 1994 Bundestag election, where it won four direct mandates.
Ramelow, Gysi and Bartsch recalled Müller’s significant contributions, particularly in the area of collective bargaining, where he worked alongside Ramelow to achieve equal pay for workers in the eastern German retail sector. The trio emphasized that Müller’s goal was to bridge the pay gap between East and West Germany.
The politicians also highlighted Müller’s role in the PDS’s Bundestag faction, where he used his trade union experience to actively contribute to the party’s political work. His direct mandate in the Berlin-Weißensee constituency, alongside Stefan Heym, Christa Luft and Gregor Gysi, was instrumental in establishing the PDS as a strong force in German politics.
Ramelow, Gysi and Bartsch expressed their sadness at Müller’s passing and vowed to continue their political work in his spirit, fighting for social justice, peaceful foreign policy and workers’ rights.