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Denmark

Background information on industrial relations in Denmark

• 23 Dec 2010
  Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Metal sector – Denmark

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the metal sector in Denmark. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 13 Dec 2010
  Denmark: Role of union representatives in coping with the economic crisis

  In a study by the Employment Relations Research Centre at the University of Copenhagen, more than 90% of Danish union representatives said their workplace had been affected by the economic crisis in some way. The study also revealed that union representatives are often actively involved when companies lay off staff and take part in local negotiations on wage cuts or freezes. However, many union representatives felt they lack the competencies to handle such situations.

• 15 Nov 2010
  Denmark: Decline of the Danish shop steward

  A new study reveals that only one in two Danish workplaces now have a shop steward, and private sector workplaces are even less likely to have an official union representative. Many explanations are offered for this, but one in five local managers say it is impossible to find a willing candidate. Shop stewards themselves believe it will be difficult to find a replacement if and when they leave the post. These difficulties may challenge the sustainability of the collective bargaining model.

• 06 Oct 2010
  Denmark: Posted workers

  Data on foreign service providers and posted workers in Denmark is still not, or since the enlargement in 2004, comprehensive. In many cases because the foreign companies, which in this context are to a large degree Polish firms in the construction sector, neither register to the authorities in question, nor take up contact with the social partners. An increasing number of cases of industrial dispute has been a consequence.

• 02 Sep 2010
  Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Inland water transport – Denmark

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the inland water transport industry in Denmark. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 24 Aug 2010
  Denmark: Unions accept pay settlement proposal

  In April, Denmark’s unions accepted a pay settlement proposal based on the 2010 collective wage negotiations. The ballot was in doubt because the clerical union HK seemed likely to overturn its traditional ‘yes’ vote. The other large union 3F usually votes ‘no’ to the collective agreement, and if this had happened the labour market would have been thrown into conflict. But in the event both unions voted yes, so the proposal was carried by a comfortable majority despite a low turnout.

• 14 Jul 2010
  Denmark: New agreements pave the way to tackle social dumping

  New collective agreements in Denmark’s transport and construction sectors will help combat social dumping and discrimination against foreign nationals. Although the main goal of the employees – complete ‘joint and several liability’ from contractor to subcontractors – was not achieved, the new agreements extend the powers of unions to prevent social dumping and promote closer cooperation between social partners.

• 07 Jun 2010
  Denmark –: Developments in social partner organisations: employer organisations

  Since 2003 no changes have taken place regarding the creation of new peak organisations or mergers between employer peak organisations. There have been a few new affiliations and disaffiliations of lower-level employer organisations. Most significant since 2003, however, was the restructuring of the Confederation of Danish Employers (DA), which weakened the position of the peak organisation in relation to the powerful member organisation, the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI).  All peak organisations are involved in tripartite consultative processes and tripartite/bipartite bodies. In Denmark, the tripartite cooperation and consultation is formal, but takes place on an ad hoc basis.

• 28 May 2010
  Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Catering sector – Denmark

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the contract catering sector in Denmark. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 17 May 2010
  Trade union strategies to recruit new groups of workers – Denmark

  Trade union membership in Denmark has generally declined since the mid 1990s – particularly in terms of retaining old members and recruiting new members to the traditional trade union movement, that is, the unions affiliated to the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO). In recent years, LO and its two largest affiliated unions started a large-scale campaign to highlight the importance of recruiting new members, including young people and immigrants.

• 27 Apr 2010
  Addressing the gender pay gap: Government and social partner actions – Denmark

  The 2007 collective agreements in the private sector improved the conditions for paid paternity leave and thereby represented a step in the direction of increased gender equality in terms of sharing parts of the parental leave. Paradoxically, the frontrunners regarding addressing equal pay are the male-dominated iron and metal industry. During collective bargaining in the public sectorin 2008 three female-dominated areas, nurses, the child and youth educators and the elder care helpers were striking for wage compensation in relation to the average wage development the last decade.

• 23 Apr 2010
  Denmark: Innovative concession agreement in manufacturing sector

  On 22 February 2010, the social partners in industry agreed to a renewal of the collective agreement in the manufacturing sector. The settlement reflects the impact of the current economic crisis but also contains new surprising elements. Although the agreed wage increase is low, innovative welfare aspects were introduced. This accord could be defined as a ‘maintenance agreement’, establishing new elements to be followed up in future collective bargaining rounds.

• 19 Apr 2010
  Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Footwear industry – Denmark

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the footwear industry in Denmark. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 19 Feb 2010
  Denmark: EIRO Annual Review - 2008

  Early 2008 were dominated by tough negotiations in the public sector that ended in a long strike encompassing nurses, home carers and childhood and youth educators. At the end of the year the economic crisis resulted in a significant increase of company restructurings and mass redundancies.

• 10 Feb 2010
  Denmark: Individual disputes at the workplace – alternative disputes resolution

  In Denmark ADR in individual industrial disputes take can take place within the collective labour law or the civil court system. In most cases individual disputes at workplace is dealt with according to the Standard Rules for Handling Industrial Disputes from 1910 and basically still in force today. ADR is an incorporated part of these standard rules. Any case of dispute that stems from breach or interpretation of the collective agreement at workplace must enter a phase of negotiation and conciliation before it can be taken any further.

• 03 Feb 2010
  Denmark: Difficult collective bargaining in light of economic crisis

  The battle lines were sharply drawn when the social partners in the private sector in Denmark started a new collective bargaining round in January 2010, against the background of the economic crisis. The employers aim to secure the country’s competitiveness in the global market, while the employees seek an increase in real wages and social improvements. One possible outcome is a breakdown in negotiations followed by a general conflict across economic sectors.

• 26 Jan 2010
  Denmark: Trade union leader outlines vision for one large union

  Declining membership numbers and stronger employer organisations are prompting the trade union movement to streamline its efforts. The president of the largest trade union in Denmark has recommended a merger of all trade unions affiliated to the Danish Trade Union Confederation into one single comprehensive union. The leaders of the other trade unions are sceptical in this regard but are generally positive towards the idea of comprehensive mergers.

• 21 Jan 2010
  Denmark: representativeness of the European social partners – Personal services sector

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the personal services sector in Denmark. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 12 Jan 2010
  Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Civil aviation – Denmark

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the civil aviation industry in Denmark. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.