Danish Confederation of Trade Unions

LO, The Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (Danish: LO, Landsorganisationen i Danmark or simply LO) was founded in 1898 and was an umbrella organisation (the largest of the three national trade union centers in Denmark) for 18 Danish trade unions. At the end of 2018, it merged into the new Danish Trade Union Confederation.

LO
LO, The Danish Confederation of Trade Unions
LO, Landsorganisationen i Danmark
Merged intoDanish Trade Union Confederation
Founded1898
Dissolved31 December 2018
HeadquartersCopenhagen, Denmark
Location
Members
1.1 million (2016)
Key people
President Lizette Risgaard
AffiliationsITUC, ETUC, TUAC, NFS
Websitelo.dk in English

History

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Lizette Risgaard, who became the first ever female President for LO-Denmark in October 2015, had worked her way slowly up the ladder and was for eight years the vice president.[1]

From 2015, LO engaged in negotiations with FTF about a potential merger. This occurred on 1 January 2019, and the LO became part of the new Danish Trade Union Confederation.[2]

Organisation

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In 2016, LO had a membership of about 1.1 million workers (450,000 of them being public sector employees and 650,000 of them being private sector employees).[3] It cooperated with the two other Danish trade union centers: the AC – The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the FTF – Confederation of Professionals in Denmark.

Members of the 18 trade unions of the LO were typically skilled or unskilled manual labourers, tradesmen and blue-collar workers from the working class. Members may have had a vocational education, but not a college or academic degree. A typical LO-member occupied a lower class position in society and earned an hourly wage.

LO-members were e.g. blue-collar workers, cleaners, bus drivers, plumbers, electricians, nursing assistants, hairdressers, painters, cosmeticians, gardeners, iron workers, dairymen, secretaries, technicians, assistants, etc.

The LO was affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC) and the Council of Nordic Trade Unions (NFS).

The LO carried the role of coordinating collective bargaining. It also sought to influence the government and the political parties when it comes to drafting and implementing legislation, especially in relation to labour market policies. It represented the trade union movement's interests on various boards, commissions and committees.

Affiliates

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Union[4] Abbreviation Formed Reason not affiliated Year[5] Membership (1954)[4]
Army Privates' and Corporals' Association HKKF 1949 Transferred to FH 2018 N/A
Association of Dairy Workers 1903 Merged into NNF 1983 3,447
Association of Social Educators SL 1979 Transferred to FH 2018 N/A
Bakery, Pastry and Mill Workers' Union 1892 Merged into NNF 1980 7,446
Brushmakers' Union 1898 Merged into TIF 1971 651
Ceramic Federation 1897 Merged into SID 1988 3,111
Chimney Sweeps' Union 1914 Merged into Blik og Rør 1994 314
Confectionery and Chocolate Workers' Union 1896 Merged into NNF 1980 1,626
Danish Artist Union DAF 1918 Transferred to FH 2018 200
Danish Boilermakers' Union 1897 Merged into Metal 1972 2,557
Danish Bookbinders' and Stationers' Union 1895 Merged into GF 1993 7,122
Danish Brewery, Distillery and Mineral Water Workers' Union DBBMF 1898 Merged into RBF 1990 8,390
Danish Carpenters' Union DT 1890 Merged into ST 1970 12,270
Danish Central Organisation of Telecommunication Employees COTD 1944 Merged into TKF 1994 11,000
Danish Clothing and Textile Workers' Union DBTF 1978 Merged into SID 1997 N/A
Danish Clothing Workers' Union DBAF 1895 Merged into DBTF 1978 20,094
Danish Coopers' Union 1890 Merged into ST 253
Danish Coppersmiths' Union 1902 Merged into Metal 1969 254
Danish Divers' Union 1920 132
Danish Elite Athletes' Association DEF-Sport 1904 Transferred to FH 2018 ?
Danish Flour Millers' Union 1895 1,226
Danish Food and Allied Workers' Union NNF 1980 Transferred to FH 2018 N/A
Danish Football Players' Association SPF 1997 Transferred to FH 2018 N/A
Danish Foundry Workers' Union 1897 Merged into Metal 1970 2,680
Danish Hairdressers' and Beauticians' Union DFKF 1911 Merged into Dff-S 2013 ?
Danish Handball Players' Association 2004 Transferred to FH 2018 N/A
Danish Gardeners' Union 1894 Merged into SID 1972 5,012
Danish Glass Workers' Union 1892 Merged into SID 1971 448
Danish General Workers' Union SID 1897 Merged into 3F 2004 247,917
Danish Hatters' and Furriers' Union 1901 Merged into DBAF 1959 1,307
Danish Hotel and Restaurant Staff Association 1933 Merged into RBF 1990 1,457
Danish Lithographers' Union 1895 Merged into GF 1993 1,469
Danish Locomotive Engineers' Union 1925 Merged into DJF 1986 300
Danish Mechanical Dentistry Workers' Union 1907 107
Danish Metal Grinders' Union 1903 Merged into Metal 1983 1,047
Danish Metal Printers' Union 1911 Merged into Metal 1967 148
Danish Municipal Workers' Union DKA 1899 Merged into FOA 1992 17,380
Danish Painters' Union Maler 1890 Transferred to FH 2018 10,522
Danish Paviours' Union 1875 Merged into SID 1973 198
Danish Postal Union DPF 1908 Merged into SID 2001 8,830
Danish Prison Federation 1913 Transferred to FH 2018 1,740
Danish Quarry and Stoneworkers' Union 1897 Merged into Murer 1971 635
Danish Railway Union DJF 1899 Transferred to FH 2018 10,553
Danish Rope Makers' Union DRAF 1897 Merged into DTAF 1973 495
Danish Seamen's Union SFD 1897 Resigned 1975[6] 4,972
Danish Ship Builders', Riggers' and Sailmakers' Union DSRS 1971 Merged into Metal 1976 N/A
Danish Ship Builders' Union 1892 Merged into DSRS 1971 1,563
Danish Shoemakers' Union DSF 1885 Merged into DBTF 1983 6,042
Danish Tanners' Union 1898 Merged into Sadel 1973 789
Danish Textile Workers' Union DTAF 1885 Merged into DBTF 1978 22,712
Danish Tobacco Workers' Union 1887 Merged into NNF 1980 7,843
Danish Timber Industry and Construction Workers' Union TIB 1997 Merged into 3F 2010 N/A
Danish Tin and Plumbing Workers' Union Blik og Rør 1890 Transferred to FH 2018 3,320
Danish Typographical Union DT-F 1903 Merged into GF 1993 8,878
Danish Union of Bricklayers Murer 1887 Merged into SID 1994 11,715
Danish Union of Educators PMF 1983 Merged into FOA 2015 N/A
Danish Union of Electricians DEF 1904 Transferred to FH 2018 7,700
Danish Union of Joiners SF 1885 Merged into ST 1970 13,475
Danish Union of Joiners and Carpenters ST 1970 Merged into TIB 1996 N/A
Danish Union of Metalworkers Metal 1888 Transferred to FH 2018 59,329
Danish Union of Professional Technicians TL 1919 Transferred to FH 2018 ?
Danish Union of Service Employees Dff-S 1911 Transferred to FH 2018 6,186
Danish Union of Slaughterhouse Workers DSA 1895 Merged into NNF 1980 13,020
Danish Vehicle Builders' Union 1895 Merged into Metal 1976 1,489
Danish Women Workers' Union KAD 1901 Merged into 3F 2004 41,081
Danish Woodworkers' Union TIF 1895 Merged into TIB 1996 11,963
FOA FOA 1992 Transferred to FH 2018 N/A
Glaziers' Union of Denmark 1893 Merged into ST 1975 542
Glovemakers' Union of Denmark Merged into Sadel 1971 331
Gold and Silver Workers' Union of Denmark 1891 Merged into Metal 1984 1,899
Graphics Federation GF 1993 Merged into HK 2000 N/A
Homeworkers' Union HA 1904 Merged into FOA 1992 4,098
Lighthouse Service Union 255
Marine Firemen's Union of Denmark 1897 Merged into Metal 1980 1,750
Metal Workers' Union of Denmark 1903 Merged into Metal 1968 553
National Gastronomic Association 1972 Merged into RBF 1990 N/A
Paper Industry Workers' Union 1895 Merged into SID 1983 2,089
Picture Frame Workers' Union of Denmark Merged into TAF 1970 100
Private Railway Personnel Union 1901 Merged into DJF 1984 960
Restaurant Trade Union RBF 1990 Merged into 3F 2006 N/A
Riggers' and Sail Makers' Union 1919 Merged into DSRS 1971 257
Saddlers' and Upholsterers' Union of Denmark Sadel 1897 Merged into ST 1984 5,071
Semi-Skilled Metal Workers' Union 1918 Merged into Metal 1957 1,500
Skilled Cooks' Union 1934 Merged into RBF 1990 1,820
Stucco Workers' Union 1920 49
Telecommunications Union TKF 1994 Merged into Metal 2003 N/A
Union of Commercial and Clerical Employees in Denmark HK 1900 Transferred to FH 2018 59,812
Union of State Mental Hospital Personnel 136
United Federation of Danish Workers 3F 2004 Transferred to FH 2018 N/A
Waiters' Union of Denmark 1931 Merged into RBF 1991 7,608
Watch Makers' Union 775

Presidents

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1898: Jens Jensen
1903: Christian Martin Olsen
1909: Carl Madsen
1929: Vilhelm Nygaard
1937: Christian Jensen
1938: Knud V. Jensen
1939: Laurits Hansen
1943: Eiler Jensen
1967: Thomas Nielsen
1982: Knud Christensen
1987: Finn Thorgrimson
1996: Hans Jensen
2007: Harald Børsting
2015: Lizette Risgaard

References

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  1. ^ "New President of LO-Denmark defends the Nordic model — Nordic Labour Journal".
  2. ^ Prelsler, Marle (11 February 2019). "Danish trade union movement gathers the troops". Nordic Labour Journal. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  3. ^ "An introduction to LO – the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions" (PDF). LO. January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  4. ^ a b Directory of Labor Organizations: Europe. Vol. 1. United States Department of Labor. 1955. pp. 7.5–7.22.
  5. ^ Ebbinghaus, Bernhard; Visser, Jelle (2000). Trade Unions in Western Europe Since 1945. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 176–179. ISBN 0333771125.
  6. ^ Campbell, Joan; Windmuller, John P. (1992). European Labor Unions. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 95. ISBN 031326371X.
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