So the situation seems locked, and Denmark is moving closer to a major conflict every day. The trade-union movement leadership is very aware of this, and does not want to be in opposition to its own members. And the fear is even if the negotiatorsmanage to bargain a good agreement, with high pay rises and a range of other demands the members will still vote down the proposal if they are deprived of a public holiday from parliament at the same time. Parliament is now working to use the constitution’s provisions to force through a referendum, which has not happened since 1963.Įither way, the deadline for negotiating collective agreements is approaching. The government has its majority in place, despite massive public opposition. As of last week, it has mobilized Denmark’s largest petition against the government’s proposal, and has called for a nationwide demonstration in Copenhagen on Sunday, February 5, with the expectation of the largest demonstration since the “welfare movement” of the 2000s. This proposed legislative intervention has put the government directly on a collision course with the trade union movement.
The government has now proposed to abolish this holiday, including provisions to remove by law all labour agreements that mention this day as a day off, or that require increased payment for work on this holiday (usually a supplement of about 50% of wages) A key element has been the desire to abolish a public holiday in Denmark, called “Store Bededag”. The basis of this new government is bourgeois economic policy. – Moderates, a new bourgeois “centre party”, founded by the former Prime Minister of the Liberals.įor the first time since 1994, we also have a majority government in Denmark. – The Left, a bourgeois liberal party which has historically led “blue minority” governments and which is historically perceived as the mainstream party of government on the right.
– The Social Democratic Party, which has historically led “red minority” governments as recently as 2019-2022, with the Red Green Alliance in the parliamentary majority. New bourgeois government - attacking collective agreements!Īs if this challenge was not difficult enough, after the November elections, for the first time since 1979 Denmark got a government “across the centre” consisting of 3 parties: This is the challenge that the leadership of the trade union movement has been aiming to resolve, and resolve at a level that members could accept. In addition, there are the demands from last time, which include effective safeguards against social dumping in the construction industry. With the recent development of inflation, and the associated loss of real wages for employees, the demands this time are extremely high. So even though key demands from the trade union movement had not been implemented, a huge majority of members chose to vote yes to this agreement. In the middle of the negotiations, the covid-19 pandemic broke out in Denmark and the country shut down. The collective agreements were last renewed In 2020, for a three-year period and around 8.9% in pay progression. We have a united trade union movement, which has historically had close links with social democracy. The State Mediation Institution can postpone this deadline for up to 2 times 14 days, to allow additional time for negotiations. The parties must agree on new contracts, and members must then vote in favour of these before that date. The current “main agreements” in the private labour market are due to expire on 1 March 2023.
For employers, it is an effective safeguard for stable conditions in the labour market. Overall, this system has also contributed to the fact that we have very few conflicts in the Danish labour market. Agreements are negotiated every few years, depending on how long they have been in force, and during this period there is an obligation of “social peace”, which prohibits, for example, work stoppages, disputes, etc. In short, most essential conditions are set by the social partners, for example the minimum wages. These are negotiated directly between trade unions and employers’ organizations, and only a few key elements (holidays, working environment, anti-discrimination, etc.) are regulated by law. In Denmark, pay and working conditions are set by collective agreements. In the meantime, the new bourgeois “middle government” consisting of the Social Democrats, the Liberals and a new bourgeois “middle party” has poured oil on the fire.īackground and introduction: Agreements and renewal: There was already a high risk of conflict last autumn.
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