Danish General Workers' Union

Last updated

The Danish General Workers' Union (Danish : Specialarbejderforbundet i Danmark, SID) was a general union representing mostly unskilled and semi-skilled workers, in Denmark.

Contents

History

The union was founded in 1897 as the Danish Workers' Union (DA), becoming the Danish Workers' and Specialist Workers' Union (DASF) in 1959, then in 1974 adopted its final name. It organised workers who were considered unskilled, or semi-skilled, in industries where the most skilled workers were represented by other unions. This sometimes led to conflict, as it argued that the lowest-paid workers should receive the highest wage increases, to reduce pay differentials. [1]

Over the years, numerous smaller unions have merged in to the Metalworkers' union. These include: [2]

The union affiliated to the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) on formation, but left in 1925, rejoining in 1937. From its formation until 1990, the SID was the largest union in Denmark, but it was then surpassed by the Danish Union of Commercial and Clerical Employees. By 1997, it had 319,680 members, of whom about 37% worked in production, 31% in construction, 24% in transport, and the remainder in various other sectors. [1] [4]

At the end of 2004, the union merged with the Danish Women Workers' Union, to form the United Federation of Danish Workers. [5]

Presidents

1897: Michael Christian Lyngsie
1931: Axel Olsen
1947: Christian Larsen
1957: Alfred Petersen
1964: Viggo Wivel
1968: Anker Jørgensen
1972: Ejler Sønder
1979: Hardy Hansen
1995: Poul Erik Skov Christensen

Related Research Articles

A trade union, often simply called a union, is an organization of workers who have come together to achieve many common goals, such as protecting the integrity of their trade, improving safety standards, and attaining better wages, benefits, and working conditions through the increased bargaining power wielded by the creation of a monopoly of the workers. Trade unions typically fund the formal organization, head office, and legal team functions of the trade union through regular fees or union dues. The delegate staff of the trade union representation in the workforce are made up of workplace volunteers who are appointed by members in democratic elections.

Anker Jørgensen Danish politician and former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Denmark

Anker Henrik Jørgensen was a Danish politician who served at various times as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Denmark. Between 1972 and 1982 he led five cabinets as Prime Minister. Jørgensen was President of the Nordic Council in 1986 and 1991.

LO, The Danish Confederation of Trade Unions was founded in 1898 and was an umbrella organisation for 18 Danish trade unions. At the end of 2018, it merged into the new Danish Trade Union Confederation.

HK Denmark, is a trade union representing clerical workers, workers in retail, and in related industries, in Denmark.

Danish Union of Metalworkers

The Danish Union of Metalworkers is a trade union in Denmark. It principally represents workers in the metal industries, but also covers telecommunications, transportation and some other sectors.

Danish Timber Industry and Construction Workers Union

The Danish Timber Industry and Construction Workers' Union (TIB) was a trade union representing construction, wood and furniture workers in Denmark.

Norwegian Union of General Workers

The Norwegian Union of General Workers (NAF) is a trade union in Norway. It has a membership of 33,000 and is affiliated with the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO).

Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions Confed

The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU), often known as the Confed is a trade union confederation in the United Kingdom.

Federated Ironworkers Association of Australia

The Federated Ironworkers' Association of Australia (FIA) was an Australian trade union which existed between 1911 and 1991. It represented labourers and semi-skilled workers employed in the steel industry and ironworking, and later also the chemical industry.

Vehicle Builders Employees Federation of Australia

The Vehicle Builders' Employees' Federation of Australia (VBEF) was an Australian trade union which existed between 1863 and 1993. It was an industrial union which represented all production employees in the vehicle industry and automotive parts manufacturing industry.

The Danish Women Workers' Union was a general union representing women working in what were perceived to be lower-skilled jobs, in Denmark.

The Danish Textile Workers' Union was a trade union representing workers in the textile industry in Denmark.

The Danish Postal Union was a trade union representing people working for the Postvæsenet department of the Danish government.

The Danish Seamen's Union was a trade union representing sailors and other workers ships in the Danish merchant navy.

The Danish Central Organisations of Telecommunications Employees was a trade union representing workers in the communications industry in Denmark.

The Danish Gardeners' Union was a trade union representing gardeners in Denmark.

The Danish Lithographers' Union was a trade union representing printers in Denmark.

The National Federation of Construction Workers was a trade union representing workers in the construction industry in France.

The Dutch Transport Workers' Union was a trade union representing workers in the transport industry in the Netherlands.

The Danish Bookbinders' and Stationers' Union was a trade union representing bookbinders and workers involved in making stationery in Denmark.

References

  1. 1 2 Campbell, Joan; Windmuller, John P. (1992). European Labor Unions. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 97–98. ISBN   031326371X.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "SiD's arkiver". Arbejdermuseet. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  3. "SiD". Den Store Dansk. Gyldendal. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  4. Ebbinghaus, Bernhard; Visser, Jelle (2000). Trade Unions in Western Europe Since 1945. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 179. ISBN   0333771125.
  5. ICTUR; et al., eds. (2005). Trade Unions of the World (6th ed.). London, UK: John Harper Publishing. ISBN   0-9543811-5-7.