Jørgensen, Carsten
Thematic feature - unskilled workers
11 május 2005
In recent years, labour market developments have altered the demand for
labour. Increasingly, employers are looking for adaptable workers, with more
'transversal' and 'relational' competences. The nature of skills required to
be considered efficient in a job has thus evolved. In this situation, there
is a growing risk of exclusion among unemployed workers whose profiles do not
match the job characteristics needed, while the low-skilled or unskilled
workforce is more at risk of unemployment.
New agreement signed for healthcare staff
24 április 2005
On 28 February 2005, a new collective agreement for some 71,000 nurses,
physiotherapists, midwives, catering officers and dental hygienists was
signed by the Health Cartel (Sundhedskartellet) of trade unions and the
employers, represented by Local Government Denmark (Kommunernes
Landsforening, KL), Danish Regions (Amtrådsforeningen, ARF) and the
Copenhagen Hospital Corporation, (Hovedstadens Sygehusfællesskab, H:S). The
members of the unions affiliated to the Health Cartel were the last group in
the public sector to be covered by a new three-year agreement in the 2005
bargaining round (DK0503101N [1] and DK0502103F [2]).
[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/new-agreement-concluded-for-employees-in-the-state-sector
[2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/new-agreement-concluded-in-local-public-sector
Finance sector agreements increase flexibility
24 április 2005
In early March 2005, a new three-year collective agreement for 50,000
employees in banks and mortgage credit institutions was signed by the Danish
Employers' Association for the Financial Sector (Finanssektorens
Arbejdsgiverforening, FA) and the Financial Services' Union (Finansforbundet,
FF). The deal provides for a wage increase of 9.61% over the next three
years, and for more flexible working hours.
Thematic feature - collective agreements on changes in work organisation
19 április 2005
The EU’s European employment strategy [1] was revised in 2003 (EU0308205F
[2]), following demands for a more results-oriented strategy contributing
successfully to the targets for more and better jobs and an inclusive labour
market set at the Lisbon European Council in 2000 (EU0004241F [3]). To
support the three objectives of full employment, quality and productivity at
work and cohesion and an inclusive labour market, the current employment
guidelines [4] identify 10 priorities ('commandments'), including one on
'promoting adaptability of workers and firms to change'. This identifies work
organisation (alongside skills, lifelong learning and career development,
gender equality, health and safety at work, flexibility and security,
inclusion and access to the labour market, work-life balance, social dialogue
and worker involvement, diversity and non-discrimination, and overall work
performance) as an element in improved quality at work, which should be
pursued through a concerted effort between all actors and particularly
through social dialogue.
[1] http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/employment_strategy/index_en.htm
[2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/2003-employment-guidelines-and-recommendations-adopted
[3] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/undefined-social-policies/lisbon-council-agrees-employment-targets
[4] http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/employment_strategy/guidelines_en.htm
New agreement concluded in the green sector
10 április 2005
With the dairy sector as the last hurdle all agreements in the so-called
green sector were landed on the last day of March 2005. That was at the very
last moment as the existing agreement expired on 1 April.
New agreement concluded for employees in the state sector
31 március 2005
By end of February 2005, the negotiating parties in the state sector, the The
State Employers' Authority, (Personalestyrelsen) an agency within the
Ministry of Finance, and the employees’ organisations’ bargaining unit,
the Danish Central Federation of State Employees (Centralorganisationernes
Fællesudvalg, CFU) concluded a new three-year agreement. The 160,000
employees obtained an agreement which is very similar to the agreement
concluded in the municipal/county sector a few days earlier.
New agreement concluded in local public sector
15 március 2005
On 19 February 2005, a new three-year collective agreement for approximately
560,000 employees in municipalities and counties was signed by the joint
trade union negotiating body, the Association of Local Government
Employees’ Organisations (Kommunale Tjenestemænd og Overenskomstansatte,
KTO), and the two employers' organisations, the National Association of Local
Authorities in Denmark (Kommunernes Landsforening, KL) and the Danish
Confederation of County Councils (Amtsrådsforeningen, ARF). KTO's demand for
a general wage increase was met and over the next three years pay will rise
in step with the inflation. For their part, the employers are satisfied that
the decentralised wage-setting system known as 'New wage' (Ny Løn)
(DK0409104F [1]), will be continued. The municipal/county bargaining process
took place in parallel with collective bargaining in the central state
sector, but a result was obtained first in the municipal/county sector.
[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/new-wage-system-will-be-difficult-issue-in-regionalmunicipal-bargaining
LO issues 10-point plan to combat relocation of jobs
14 február 2005
In the middle of an intense general election campaign during January 2005,
the Confederation of Danish Trade Unions (Landsorganisationen i Danmark, LO)
took up one of the most debated themes: globalisation and its consequences
for the Danish labour market. On 18 January 2005, Prime Minister Anders Fogh
Rasmussen - who leads the current coalition government of the the Liberal
Party (Venstre) and the Conservative Party (Det Konservative Folkeparti) -
called a parliamentary election for 8 February.
Survey finds employer doubts over future of trade unions
08 február 2005
In spite of overwhelming support for the 'Danish model' of industrial
relations and general recognition of its historical role, many employers have
fundamental doubts when it comes to the importance and role of the trade
unions today and in the future. A substantial proportion see trade unions as
reactionary, narrow-minded and out of step with their members. Furthermore, a
little over half of employers believe that it would be a good thing for
Danish society if the unions lost some of their influence. These are among
the key findings of a major study on 'how business managers see the trade
unions' conducted towards the end of 2004 by Rambøll Management for the
newsletter A4 [1], which is published by the Danish Confederation of Trade
Unions (Landsorganisationen i Danmark, LO). The results of the study were
published in January 2005 (/Erhvervslivets syn på fagbevægelsen/, in /A4/,
17 January 2005).
[1] http://www.ugebreveta4.dk/smcms/Ugebrevet/7422/7474/7500/7515/Index.htm?ID=7515
DA employers' confederation restructures
16 január 2005
In December 2004, the executive committee of the Confederation of Danish
Employers (Dansk Arbejdsiverforening, DA) adopted the organisation's strategy
for the period up until 2010. The new strategy will lead to organisational
changes, and DA's budget will be reduced by about a third over 2005. The plan
adopted unanimously by the executive committee will be presented to DA's
general assembly. Currently, DA has a budget of about DKK 120 million and 135
employees.