Denmark
Background information on industrial relations in Denmark
- 28 Dec 1998
Denmark: Transport employers' organisations amalgamate<#PDF_LINK>From 1 January 1999, the various employers' organisations within the Danish transport industry are part of the same organisation - AHTS, the second-largest member of the Danish Employers' Confederation (DA). In the long term, this amalgamation may be seen as the first step towards a single organisation for the service sector, for which there are currently two large associations within DA - AHTS and DHS.
- 28 Dec 1998
Denmark: Employers' costs are reduced<#PDF_LINK>As a result of Denmark's 1999 Budget settlement, employers' costs are to be reduced, a majority in Parliament having concurred with employers' demands for tax reductions, including the abolition of the "employers' labour market contribution". This will result in a certain improvement in companies' competitive situation, which was otherwise threatened by relatively large pay increases arising from the spring 1998 collective bargaining round.
- 28 Dec 1998
Denmark: New early retirement rules cause controversy<#PDF_LINK>Negotiations on Denmark's 1999 Budget ended in late November 1998 with a broad political majority for an overall package, which contained major changes in the rules governing early retirement benefit and pensions. This has resulted in a fierce dispute between parts of the trade union movement and the government, in which the special "Danish model" for regulating the labour market via collective agreements may be questioned.
- 28 Dec 1998
Denmark: Difficult collective bargaining round in prospect<#PDF_LINK>The first three or four months of 1999 will see collective bargaining in Denmark's public sector, agriculture and forestry sector (including slaughterhouses) and financial services sector. Following the widespead industrial dispute in spring 1998 in the main private sector bargaining area covered by the LO trade union confederation and DA employers' confederation, the prospect is of a difficult collective bargaining round in these three other areas, not least in the public and agricultural sectors. One particular problem is the rules on working hours in the education sector - this issue alone could lead to a general industrial dispute and renewed political intervention.
- 28 Dec 1998
Denmark: 300,000 workers change jobs in six months<#PDF_LINK>A recent survey reveals the great mobility of Danish workers, which is seen as being due to a decreasing sense of loyalty to their employers. The survey, which was conducted for the LO and FTF trade union confederations by Gallup, suggested that 10% of pay earners changed jobs in the six months from April to October 1998.
- 28 Dec 1998
Denmark: 1998 Annual Review for Denmark<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews 1998's main developments in industrial relations in Denmark
- 28 Nov 1998
Denmark: The shop steward of the future - LO conducts major survey<#PDF_LINK>A major new survey of Danish shop stewards, published in September 1998, indicates that the shop steward of the future will not only be involved in bargaining over pay and working conditions. Shop stewards, it is suggested, will become increasingly involved in more strategic and financial decisions at the workplace. This presents new requirements for shop steward training, and may also be a challenge for the trade union movement.
- 28 Nov 1998
Denmark: Cooperation found to be central to the Danish shop steward system<#PDF_LINK>The shop steward plays an important role in many Danish businesses, not least for management, which regards shop stewards as important "sparring partners". In general, the shop steward is respected by both employees and management, though many call for more response from their constituents. The stewards' influence on trade unions is greatest at local level, but diminishes higher up the hierarchy. These are some of the findings of a major new survey of Danish shop stewards, published in September 1998.
- 28 Nov 1998
Denmark: Employers demand tax cuts<#PDF_LINK>Collective bargaining outcomes and the government intervention to settle the major industrial dispute in spring 1998 have led to a level of company-level pay increases which is damaging to Danish competitiveness, according to the Danish Employers' Confederation (DA). Therefore, in November 1998 DA called on the government to introduce tax cuts to improve the situation of companies.
- 28 Nov 1998
Denmark: Government employees demand more holidays and higher pay<#PDF_LINK>When the Danish government intervened in spring 1998 to end the major private sector industrial dispute, one of the elements of the settlement was the provision of additional days of holiday. Demands to extend this extra holiday will be a major feature in the forthcoming collective bargaining in the public sector in spring 1999. The first statements from the public sector bargaining parties, at congresses held in November 1998, indicate that a tough bargaining round can be expected.
- 28 Nov 1998
Denmark: Breakthrough for alternative trade union movement<#PDF_LINK>In November 1998, the Danish Christian Trade Union signed a collective agreement with restaurant owners in Nyhavn, Copenhagen. This means that, for the first time, the largest alternative organisation to the traditional trade union movement will have a collective agreement in that part of the labour market which is regarded as being covered by the two largest central organisations, the Danish Federation of Trade Unions (LO) and the Danish Employers' Confederation (DA).
- 28 Oct 1998
Denmark: Tripartite agreement reached on content of new labour market reform<#PDF_LINK>On 29 September 1998, the social partners and the government agreed on the content of Denmark's third labour market reform in recent years. While a number of unions are sceptical - and one has opted out of the deal - the agreement has been positively received by parliament.
- 28 Oct 1998
Denmark: People taking voluntary early retirement call for more flexibility<#PDF_LINK>A survey from Denmark's LO trade union confederation, released in October 1998, indicates that one in 10 people who have taken voluntary early retirement regret their choice. Furthermore, nearly one-third of all those on voluntary early retirement would rather work while receiving partial early retirement benefit.
- 28 Oct 1998
Denmark: White-collar workers want more training<#PDF_LINK>A survey conducted for FTF, the Danish white-collar workers' confederation, and published in August 1998, shows a very strong wish for further and supplementary training among its members, who regard training as part of their workplace culture.
- 28 Oct 1998
Denmark: LO surveys shop stewards<#PDF_LINK>In September 1998, Denmark's LO trade union confederation presented the findings of a new survey of shop stewards. The survey reveals that cooperation is widespread in Danish workplaces, and it must be expected that shop stewards will become increasingly involved in financial and strategic decisions.
- 28 Sep 1998
Denmark: Third reform of labour market policy is underway<#PDF_LINK>Denmark's Ministry of Labour held tripartite talks on 17 September 1998 on the basis of a document setting out possible adjustments to present labour market policy, released in August. The talks will serve as a basis for legislative proposals from the Government in October 1998
- 28 Sep 1998
Denmark: Trade union demands a sixth week of paid holiday<#PDF_LINK>The introduction of a sixth week of paid holiday is likely to be one of the main point of contention in collective bargaining in Denmark's public, agricultural and financial sectors, which will commence in early 1999.
- 28 Sep 1998
Denmark: More flexible holiday planning in industry<#PDF_LINK>According to a report published in autumn 1998, both employers and employees see the benefits of replacing the traditional three-week summer break in Danish industry with more flexible holiday arrangements.
- 28 Sep 1998
Denmark: Denmark experiences relatively high wage increases<#PDF_LINK>According to recent figures, the Danish Government intervention to end the widespread industrial conflict which affected the country in spring 1998 will have a notable impact on 1998-2000 wage developments in the private sector.
- 28 Jul 1998
Denmark: LO evaluates the 1998 collective bargaining round<#PDF_LINK>Denmark's 1998 collective bargaining round, which ended in a major strike and government intervention, underlined the trade union movement's need for improved communication and priorities, according to the LO union confederation. Furthermore, surveys indicate that the demand by workers for a sixth week of paid holiday, raised during the conflict, may not be as clear-cut as it seems.
- 28 Jul 1998
Denmark: Early retirement once again on the agenda<#PDF_LINK>With new statistics showing that seven out of 10 Danes aged between 60 and 67 have taken early retirement, in summer 1998 employers once more called on the government to amend the early retirement scheme.
- 28 Jul 1998
Denmark: European Commission questions Danish implementation of Directives through collective agreements<#PDF_LINK>The Danish agreement-based implementation of the EU-Directive on working time may be brought before the European Court of Justice.
- 28 Jul 1998
Denmark: Clerical employees are stressed and burned out<#PDF_LINK>A trade union survey, published in summer 1998, indicates that stress is a widespread phenomenon among clerical employees in Denmark's municipal sector.
- 28 Jun 1998
Denmark: Improved conditions for families with small children top the agenda<#PDF_LINK>In June 1998, the Danish Government issued a package of policies that contains a range of initiatives to improve conditions for families with small children. The package was well received by the social partners, and will be discussed in forthcoming tripartite talks.
- 28 Jun 1998
Denmark: Employers rejoin Danish health and safety system<#PDF_LINK>In June 1998, the employers' "opt-out" from the Danish tripartite health and safety system ended after one year. The new Minister of Labour came to an understanding with employers on the balance of power between the Ministry and the social partners, and has given employers a three-year transitional period on the introduction of new workforce-size thresholds for safety representatives.
- 28 Jun 1998
Denmark: New centre promotes social cohesion and responsible companies<#PDF_LINK>"The Copenhagen Centre" is a new initiative from Denmark's Ministry of Social Affairs, launched in 1998. The new Centre has the task of promoting social cohesion and responsibility in Danish and foreign-owned companies.
- 28 Jun 1998
Denmark: Road-haulage employers seek to abolish closed-shop agreement<#PDF_LINK>In mid-1998, a closed-shop agreement with the SiD trade union was proving an obstacle on the road towards merger for two employers' organisations in the Danish road transport sector.
- 28 Jun 1998
Denmark: Trade union cartel faces unknown future<#PDF_LINK>In June 1998, the withdrawal of a large number of members from Denmark's second-largest trade union cartel threw into question the tasks and competencies of such cartels.
- 28 May 1998
Denmark: Parliament intervenes to end major conflict<#PDF_LINK>Denmark experienced 10 days of major industrial conflict over April-May 1998, after workers unexpectedly rejected a mediation proposal to end the 1998 bargaining round, demanding more time off. After attempts by the LO trade union confederation and DA employers' confederation to renegotiate the deal became deadlocked, Parliament adopted a government bill on 7 May, which brought the dispute to an end on the following day.
- 28 May 1998
Denmark: LO opts out of the 1987 joint statement and for a social contract<#PDF_LINK>On 15 May 1998, Denmark's LO trade union confederation decided to withdraw from the 1987 joint statement on pay restraint as a reaction to the Government's earlier intervention in a major industrial dispute. LO restated its wish to conclude a "social contract" instead.
- 28 May 1998
Denmark: Conflict drains trade unions' cash balance<#PDF_LINK>The major industrial dispute of April-May 1998 - involving 11 days of industrial conflict and some 500,000 workers - has drained Danish trade unions' coffers.
- 28 May 1998
Denmark: Danish National Action Plan for employment submitted<#PDF_LINK>The Danish National Action Plan for employment, drawn up in response to the EU Employment Guidelines for 1998, has been submitted prior to the June 1998 summit meeting in Cardiff, at which the European Council discussed the Member States' employment plans.
- 28 Apr 1998
Denmark: Social partners accept joint mediation proposal for 1998 bargaining round<#PDF_LINK>A joint mediation proposal for Denmark's 1998 collective bargaining is to be put to a ballot on 27 April 1998. The employers' bargaining strategy, in which the industry sector took an exclusive role, dominated the bargaining round. In the view of the LO trade union confederation, this strategy brought negotiations to the brink of conflict and undermined support for the "Danish model" and its sector-based bargaining.
- 28 Apr 1998
Denmark: Redundancy during parental leave approved by High Court<#PDF_LINK>Denmark's High Court ruled in March 1998 that people taking extended periods of leave are not protected against dismissal. Trade unions fear that the ruling will entail more redundancies among their members on parental leave.
- 28 Apr 1998
Denmark: Trade unionist appointed as new Minister of Labour<#PDF_LINK>Ove Hygum, a former leading trade union negotiator, has been appointed as Denmark's Minister of Labour, following the general election in March 1998 at which the Social Democrats retained power.
- 28 Apr 1998
Denmark: 1998 bargaining round ends in major conflict<#PDF_LINK>At the end of April 1998, Denmark faced its first major industrial conflict for 13 years after workers unexpectedly rejected a joint mediation proposal to conclude the bargaining round, which had been agreed by the social partners.
- 28 Mar 1998
Denmark: Breakthrough in industry sector on brink of conflict<#PDF_LINK>In March 1998, after two and a half months of negotiations, the social partners in Denmark's industrial sector agreed to renew their collective agreement. The risk of a major conflict has now been diminished, but the issue of occupational pensions may be a new stumbling block for the peaceful conclusion of the 1998 bargaining round.
- 28 Mar 1998
Denmark: Danes seem ready to say yes to the Amsterdam Treaty<#PDF_LINK>According to a survey conducted in February 1998 on behalf of the LO trade union confederation, the sceptical Danes may vote "yes" to the new Amsterdam EU Treaty on 28 May.
- 28 Mar 1998
Denmark: Social partners hold joint conference on vocational training and development<#PDF_LINK>Moving towards a "learning society" was the main theme of a conference entitledVocational training and development '98organised by trade union and employers' confederations on 12-14 March 1998.
- 28 Mar 1998
Denmark: EU improves health and safety in Denmark - counter to common belief<#PDF_LINK>A February 1998 survey reveals that many Danes do not believe that the EU has improved health and safety rules in Denmark, or will do so. An analysis conducted by LO trade union confederation indicates that this mistrust is unfounded.
- 28 Feb 1998
Denmark: The practice of closed-shop agreements under pressure<#PDF_LINK>A February 1998 High Court ruling has given rise to debate on whether the Danish practice of closed-shop agreements is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. The key issue is one of forced trade union membership and the right to individual choice of union representation
- 28 Feb 1998
Denmark: Public conciliator postpones major private sector conflict<#PDF_LINK>Negotiations over a new collective agreement in Denmark's industrial sector collapsed on 22 February 1998, and a major conflict was postponed for 14 days by the public conciliator. Industrial action may break out in March, involving some 400,000 private sector employees.
- 28 Feb 1998
Denmark: Trade union proposes flexible legislation on leave<#PDF_LINK>The topic of improving conditions for families with small children is high on the political agenda in Denmark. A trade union proposal for new and more flexible legislation on parental leave, issued in January 1998, has been well received by employers.
- 28 Feb 1998
Denmark: Technicians see agreement on overtime payment as outdated<#PDF_LINK>The Danish technicians' union, TL, announced in February 1998 that the 37-hour working week with overtime payments may belong to the past. Technicians may opt for a fixed monthly salary without overtime payment.
- 28 Jan 1998
Denmark: 1998 collective bargaining commences in industry<#PDF_LINK>Pay, pensions and flexible working time are key issues in the 1998 collective bargaining round in Denmark's industrial sector, which started in early January 1998. More flexible working time arrangements may be the price trade unions will have to pay for a satisfactory result.
- 28 Jan 1998
Denmark: Danish LO celebrates 100 years of existence<#PDF_LINK>Denmark's LO trade union confederation celebrates a century of existence in 1998. The anniversary, on the brink of the new millennium, marks a challenging period in the organisation's history, and this feature looks at LO's continuing organisational changes, its relationship with its members and its new relationship with the political system.
- 28 Jan 1998
Denmark: Unskilled male workers will still be in demand<#PDF_LINK>Recent statistics suggest that unskilled male workers will still have a place in the Danish labour market in the near future. A high take-up of further vocational training courses by this group of workers is believed by employers and trade unions to be the main reason.
- 28 Jan 1998
Denmark: 1997 was a relatively peaceful year on the Danish labour market<#PDF_LINK>Although 1997 was a year which saw considerable collective bargaining in Denmark, it was relatively peaceful in terms of industrial disputes.
- 28 Jan 1998
Denmark: LO members set out priorities for 1998<#PDF_LINK>A survey of the priorities for 1998 of members of trade unions affiliated to Denmark's LO confederation indicates that they rate improvement of working environment above fighting unemployment, increasing wages and reducing working time.