Born in Melsungen, Richert became a miner when he was sixteen, and joined the Union of Mining and Energy.
He became increasingly involved in the union, until in 1960, he began working full-time for the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), as its youth secretary for Fulda and Bad Hersfeld.
In 1991, he also became president of the International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees.
He retired in 1995, due to poor health, and died in 1997.
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