Born in Vienna, Verzetnitsch completed an apprenticeship as a pipe fitter and began working for a small business.

He became active in the Austrian Trade Union Federation's (ÖGB) youth organisation, and from 1963 was the president of its Vienna region.

In 1970, he began working full-time for the ÖGB, and in 1983 he was appointed general secretary of its executive.

[1] In 1986, Verzetnitsch was elected as a Social Democratic Party of Austria member of the National Council.

This became public knowledge in 2006, and the resulting scandal led Verzetnitsch to resign all his positions.