Danish Trade Union Confederation
The Danish Trade Union Confederation (Danish: Fagbevægelsens Hovedorganisation, FH) is the largest national trade union centre in Denmark. On formation in 2019, it had 79 affiliated unions, with a total of 1.4 million members.[1]
 | |
| Native name | Fagbevægelsens Hovedorganisation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1 January 2019 |
| Predecessor | Danish Confederation of Trade Unions, Confederation of Professionals in Denmark |
| Members | 1,400,000 |
| Affiliation | ITUC, ETUC, TUAC, NFS |
| Key people | Lizette Risgaard (President) |
| Office location | Islands Brygge 32D, 2300 Copenhagen |
| Country | Denmark |
| Website | fho |
History
The confederation was founded on 1 January 2019, when the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) merged with the Confederation of Professionals in Denmark (FTF). LO consisted of 18 unions, with a total of one million members, most of whom worked in the private sector, while FTF consisted of 70 professional organisations, with a total of just under 500,000 members, most of whom worked in the public sector.[1][2]
LO and FTF began discussing a possible merger in 2015. Some affiliates were dubious about the proposition. The FTF's Finance Federation opposed the merger, while LO's largest affiliate, the United Federation of Danish Workers (3F), only decided to support it early in March 2018. One week after 3F's decision, the FTF and LO voted on the proposal. 389 out of 400 delegates to the LO conference approved the merger, and 71.4% of voters in the FTF approved. The new federation's name and leadership were agreed in October 2018.[1][2][3]
Denmark's other trade union centre, the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC), decided against joining the new federation, arguing that its members' interests differed from those of the members of the LO and FTF.[1][4]
Policy
The new organisation decided to maintain the "Danish model", whereby pay and working conditions are negotiated without state involvement.[1][2] It also argued in support of the Danish welfare state.[1][2]
The federation remained affiliated to the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), and argued that, as a larger organisation, it would be more influential within the ETUC. The federation also affiliated to Joint Committee of the Nordic Social Democratic Labour Movement, but described itself as independent of any political party.[1]
The federation organises May Day demonstrations. For its first May Day, in 2019, the theme of the demonstrations was "unity".[1]
Organisation
The federation is led by president Lizette Risgaard, former president of LO, and six vice presidents.[2]
The unions affiliated to FH have a high degree of independence, leaving the headquarters relatively small and with limited funds. FH was established with 25% fewer staff than its combined predecessors, and aimed to save 30% of administration costs.[1]
Affiliates
| Union[5] | Abbreviation | Membership[6] |
|---|---|---|
| Army Privates' and Corporals' Association | HKKF | 4,101 |
| Association of Court Employees | 46 | |
| Association of Danish Cemetery Managers | FDK | 135 |
| Association of Danish Chairpersons | Not recorded | |
| Association of Danish Inseminators | 173 | |
| Association of Map and Surveying Technicians | KLF | 664 |
| Association of Musicians in the Armed Forces | DMF | 70 |
| Association of Parliamentary Servants | 87 | |
| Association of Social Educators | SL | 35,648 |
| Association of Technical and Administrative Officials | TAT | 536 |
| Association of the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra | 100 | |
| Aviation and Railway Trade Federation | Not recorded | |
| BUPL | BUPL | 55,480 |
| Cabin Union Denmark | 1,193 | |
| Central Association of Armed Forces Personnel | CS | 8,286 |
| CO10 Musicians' Group | Not recorded | |
| Danish Actors' Association | DSF | 1,964 |
| Danish Association of Pharmaconomists | FF | 4,541 |
| Danish Association of Social Workers | DS | 13,913 |
| Danish Artist Union | DAF | 1,150 |
| Danish Bioanalysts | Not recorded | |
| Danish Chamber Orchestra Union | 47 | |
| Danish Choir Association | 62 | |
| Danish Choral Association | 570 | |
| Danish Church Music Association | 271 | |
| Danish Customs and Tax Association | DTS | 2,592 |
| Danish Dental Hygienists | 1,828 | |
| Danish EL-Federation | DEF | 22,808 |
| Danish Elite Athletes' Association | DEF-Sport | Not recorded |
| Danish Football Players' Association | SPF | 667 |
| Danish Forest and Landscape Engineers' Association | Not recorded | |
| Danish Handball Players' Association | 553 | |
| Danish Musicians' Union | DMF | 4,883 |
| Danish Nurses' Organization | DSR | 62,770 |
| Danish Orthopaedic Engineers' Association | 41 | |
| Danish Painters' Union | Maler | 6,677 |
| Danish Podiatrists | 1,632 | |
| Danish Police Federation | 11,815 | |
| Danish Psychomotor Therapists | DAP | 948 |
| Danish Radio Media Association | MDR | 228 |
| Danish Sexton's Association | 570 | |
| Danish Tin and Plumbing Workers' Union | Blik og Rør | 8,475 |
| Danish Union of Metalworkers | Metal | 72,399 |
| Danish Union of Professional Technicians | TL | 22,874 |
| Danish Union of Teachers | DLF | 58,179 |
| Diet and Nutrition Association | KOST | 8,230 |
| DSL | DSL | 593 |
| Education Association | 9,187 | |
| FAF | FAF | 922 |
| FOA | FOA | 153,985 |
| Food Union NNF | NNF | 17,095 |
| Frederiksberg Municipal Association | FKF | 441 |
| Free Schools' Teachers' Association | FSL | 10,000 |
| Gentofte Municipal Association | GKF | 392 |
| Greenland Organisation for Public Employees | AK | Not recorded |
| HI | HI | 432 |
| HK Denmark | HK | 179,262 |
| Insurance Association | 7,839 | |
| JID | JID | 1,208 |
| Kirkekultur.nu | Not recorded | |
| KL Staff Association | 118 | |
| National Orchestra Musicians' Joint Council | 325 | |
| Organists' Association | 581 | |
| Prisons Association | FFT | 227 |
| Prison Federation | KFF | 2,807 |
| PROSA | PROSA | 10,720 |
| Public Emergency Preparedness Association | DOBL | 321 |
| Radiographers' Council | Radiograf | 2,042 |
| Radio Telegraphists' Association of 1917 | Not recorded | |
| SAFU | SAFU | 914 |
| Services Union | 15,121 | |
| Traffic League | TRF | 610 |
| Tourist Guides' Association | 251 | |
| United Federation of Danish Workers | 3F | 226,271 |
| Viften | 95 |
References
- Prelsler, Marle (11 February 2019). "Danish trade union movement gathers the troops". Nordic Labour Journal. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- "Dansk fagforeningskæmpe er blevet døbt FH". Avisen. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- "LO og FTF får ja til at samle 1,5 millioner lønmodtagere". Berlingske. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- Blichert, Jasmina (22 May 2015). "Forsker afliver tanken om samlet fagbevægelse". BT. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- "Hvem er FH's medlemmer?". FH. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- Members as of 31 December 2018, the day before the confederation was established. "Members per 31.12 by sex, member of organisation and time". Statistics Denmark. Retrieved 3 February 2020.