Jørgensen, Carsten
Study examines why union members do not vote in ballots
06 szeptember 2004
In March 2004, the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (Landsorganisationen
i Danmark, LO) and the Danish Employers’ Confederation (Dansk
Arbejdsgiverforening, DA) agreed to an overall compromise settlement - drawn
up by the Public Conciliation Service (Forligsinstitutionen) - to conclude
2004's various sectoral collective bargaining rounds across the major part of
the private sector that they represent (DK0403103F [1]). During April 2004,
the members of the trade unions affiliated to LO voted on whether or not to
accept the settlement. The members voting approved the deal by 57% to 43%.
However, the turn-out was only 37% (DK0405102F [2]).
[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/overall-compromise-reached-in-private-sector-bargaining
[2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/private-sector-settlement-approved-in-ballot
Thematic feature - industrial relations and undeclared work
01 szeptember 2004
The phenomenon of undeclared work - defined as 'any paid activities that are
lawful as regards their nature but not declared to the public authorities'-
is an issue which has been preoccupying the EU institutions for a number of
years. In 1998, the European Commission issued a Communication [1] on
undeclared work, which was designed to launch a debate on the causes of such
work and the policy options for combating it (EU9804197F [2]). It suggested
that there was a need to clarify the causes and extent, and concluded that
combating undeclared work should be part of the overall European employment
strategy [3].
[1] http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/employment_strategy/index_en.htm
[2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/undefined/commission-targets-undeclared-work
[3] http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/employment_strategy/index_en.htm
Footballers go on strike
25 augusztus 2004
Professional football players started a strike on 17 August 2004. At the end
of July, negotiations between the players union the Danish Football Players'
Association (Spillerforeningen, SPF) and the clubs represented by the Danish
League Association (Divisionsforeningen, DF) had broken down at the Public
Conciliation Service (Forligsinstitutionen) and the parties failed to
conclude an agreement. This was the first time ever that a football dispute
had been taken up by the Public Conciliation Service, which after the
breakdown of talks decided to postpone industrial action by the parties for
two weeks. The two weeks passed without any breakthrough in negotiations and
the first strike in Danish football broke out on 17 August.
New campaign launched against undeclared work
12 augusztus 2004
Over 2003-4, the public labour market and tax authorities, the police, the
social partners and to a certain degree the Danish Immigration Service
(Udlændingestyrelsen) have been campaigning against undeclared work in shops
and restaurants and in construction (DK0406102T [1] and DK0308102F [2]).
Workplace visits by the tax authorities have revealed widespread tax fraud
and undeclared work.
[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/thematic-feature-industrial-relations-and-undeclared-work-4
[2] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/building-workers-union-to-organise-self-employed
Footballers' union joins LO
06 július 2004
On 18 June 2004, the executive committee of the Confederation of Danish Trade
Unions (Landsorganisationen i Danmark, LO) decided to admit the Danish
Football Players' Association (Spillerforeningen) (DK0107126N [1]) as a
member union. This means that the union will receive all the financial and
professional support granted to LO affiliates, including sympathy action from
other LO unions in the event of a strike. Subsequently, on 1 July the Danish
Football Players' Association gave notice of industrial action from 1 August
in connection with collective bargaining with employers represented by the
Danish League Association (Divisionsforeningen). Normally, member unions of
LO can first receive financial support after one year's membership, but in
this case LO will make an exception.
[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/danish-football-players-union-is-a-success
Industrial action falls sharply in 2003
07 június 2004
The latest strike figures from Statistics Denmark (Danmark Statistik),
published on 28 April 2004, indicate that in 2003 a total of 55,100 working
days were lost as a consequence of work stoppages/conflicts - see table 1
below. This was only 28% of the 193,600 working days lost in 2002, or in
other words a fall of 72%. Fewer working days were lost in 2003 than in any
year since the statistics on work stoppages were inaugurated in 1973, with
the exception of 1989, when 132 work stoppages resulted in 52,900 lost
working days. However, it should be noted that in 1989 only conflicts
resulting in more than 100 lost working days were registered in the
statistics, whereas all conflicts are registered now (DK0303102F [1].).
[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/more-working-days-lost-due-to-political-disputes
Private sector settlement approved in ballot
02 június 2004
On 21 March 2004, the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions
(Landsorganisationen i Danmark, LO) and the Danish Employers’ Confederation
(Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening, DA) agreed to an overall compromise settlement
to conclude 2004's various sectoral collective bargaining rounds across the
major part of the private sector that they represent. The deal was drawn up
by the Public Conciliation Service (Forligsinstitutionen), following two
lengthy rounds of negotiations with the parties (DK0403103F [1]). The
settlement had to be put to a membership ballot.
[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/overall-compromise-reached-in-private-sector-bargaining
2003 Annual Review for Denmark
16 május 2004
No significant elections were held in Denmark in 2003. The government formed
in November 2001 by the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Conservative Party
(Det Konservative Folkeparti), headed by Liberal leader Anders Fogh
Rasmussen, continued in office. The next parliamentary elections will be held
in 2005.
Social partners criticise plans to decentralise measures for unemployed
10 május 2004
On 27 April 2004, the government issued a proposal for the future
administrative structure of Denmark, entitled 'The new Denmark' (Det nye
Danmark [1]). This proposal - which is based, among other elements, on an
extensive report on the Danish county/municipal structure - has been drawn up
by a so-called Structure Commission (Strukturkommissionen) and aims to reform
the present administrative structure in the direction of fewer and larger
counties and municipalities. Presently, Denmark has 13 counties, 269
municipalities and three areas with special status as both county and
municipality (Copenhagen, Frederiksberg and Bornholm)
[1] http://www.detnyedanmark.dk/
Controversy over rules for workers from new EU Member States
26 április 2004
Under transitional arrangements agreed by the EU and new Member States in
central and eastern Europe which join in 1 May 2004, the existing Member
States may limit movements of workers from the new Member States for a period
of up to seven years after enlargement. In December 2003, a majority in the
Danish parliament (Folketinget) supported a government proposal to introduce
such transitional limitations (DK0312103F [1]). Thus Denmark has joined the
other 'old' Member States, with the exception of Ireland, in taking a number
of precautions in order to prevent any fears of an excessive movement of
workers from the east. In terms of the nature of its transitional measures,
Denmark is in the middle of the EU range, with Ireland at one extreme and
Germany and Austria at the other (the latter have reportedly acted to
restrict all movement of workers from the central and eastern European
countries for the full seven-year transition period).
[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/transitional-scheme-agreed-for-workers-from-central-and-eastern-europe