What is the trade union movement?
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The trade union movement represents the workers. It protects you and secures your rights on the labour market.
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The trade union movement consists of a number of trade unions that are organised in three central organisations of which LO is by far the largest,
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There are many trade unions. They each represent a particular group of workers, for example; women workers or public employees.
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The trade unions work together, in LO for instance, in order to gain more influence.
Read more about trade unions here.
What is an employers' association?
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Employers' associations represent the employers.
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The Danish Employers' Confederation (DA) is the central organisation of 13 employers' associations.
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More than 29,000 companies operating in the fields of, amongst others; trade, industry, transportation, services and building & construction are members of DA's affiliated associations.
The trade union movement and the employers are the ones that negotiate most agreements on wages and working conditions. This is not up to the individual worker and the individual company, but a task for the organisations that represent the two parties. These agreements are called collective agreements.
Amongst other things, a collective agreement contains provisions regarding:
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Wages
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Pensions
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Rules on pay during maternity
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Rules on the first day of sickness of an employee's child
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Rules on pay during sickness
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Rules on terms of notice
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Working hours
Almost 80% of the workers on the Danish labour market are covered by collective agreements.
As a general rule, the Folketing does not interfere with the negotiations on wages and working conditions. It only legislates on the aspects that the two parties (which are also called the social partners) cannot agree on. However, the Folketing does legislate in the field of labour market policy, for example in the field of occupational health & safety. Meanwhile, in this area, the trade union movement and the employers will typically be allowed to express their views and influence the legislation in question.
The role of the trade union movement and the employers on the Danish labour market is preconditioned by a high rate of organisation. This is the case for both parties. For example, more than 80% of Danish workers are members of a trade union.
