Welcome to LO
The Danish Confederation of Trade
Unions, LO
Facts
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LO's affiliated unions have approximately 1.1 million members
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450,000 of them are public sector employees
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650,000 of them are private sector employees
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LO-members are typically skilled and unskilled workers and
workers with short-term further education
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Approximately 73 per cent of all Danish workers are unionized.
The Danish Confederation of Trade
Unions, LO
Our mission
LO has three main goals:
• We work for jobs, training and education for everyone. This is
key to the individual workers’ opportunities and freedom.
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We work to promote a labour market model with collective
agreements, shop stewards and proper working conditions at
the workplace. This provides a strong foundation for a
competitive and equal society.
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We work to combat social dumping - both in the case of
foreign workers coming to Denmark but also when Danish
companies move workplaces to other countries. Our aim is to
create equal conditions for workers in an open and modern
society.
The Danish Confederation of Trade
Unions, LO
LO's overall tasks
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As a central organisation, LO takes on overall, interdisciplinary
tasks on behalf of its affiliated unions.
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LO works to create results for members in the fields of pay- and
working conditions, training and education and employee
participation.
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LO is also tasked with presenting ideas and visions for the further
development of the labour market.
The Danish Confederation of Trade
Unions, LO
LO's specific tasks
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LO represents the unions vis-à-vis the Government and Parliament
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Takes part in tripartite and four-partite negotiations
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Concludes and revises general agreements
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Coordinates collective bargaining
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Represents the unions internationally in the NFS, ETUC, ITUC, WTO
and the EU
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Conducts cases before the Industrial Court etc. on behalf of its
affiliated unions
The Danish Confederation of Trade
Unions, LO
LO’s core tasks
LO’s core responsibilities are;
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The Danish model - development of collective agreements
The trade union movement as an organisation
Maintaining workers' issues high on the agenda
Labour and employment law
Health and safety at work and cooperation
Welfare and redistribution
Labour market policy
Growth, research, training and education
Equal pay and the gender-segregated labour market
EU and international regulation
The Danish Confederation of Trade
Unions, LO
The Danish model
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The Danish labour market model (the Danish model/flexicurity) is
based on the autonomy of the social partners. In most other
countries, the labour market is governed by legislation.
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However, in the Danish labour market, there is no legislation in
central areas such as pay and working time. The social partner
organisations agree on the rules in these areas by means of
collective agreements - among others.
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The Danish model offers influence for workers and employers
rather than influence for politicians.
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The Danish model provides flexibility and stability.
The Danish Confederation of Trade
Unions, LO
A break with 139 years' of tradition
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The cooperation between the trade union movement and the
Social Democrats dates back to 1871 when the two parties were
joined in one workers' organisation.
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In 1996, LO formally cut the ties to the Social Democrats and in
2003, LO ceased to pay financial contributions to the party and
established its own value statement.
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Now, LO cooperates with all sides of the political spectrum in all
matters that are important to LO's members.
The Danish Confederation of Trade
Unions, LO
LO’s structure
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LO's Congress gathers every four years with the participation of
400 delegates. Among other things, Congress reviews the work
and results of the past four years and adopts a policy platform.
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The General Council is the highest authority between congresses.
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The Day-to-day management is elected by Congress and has 14
members.
Local LO-sections:
• Local cooperation between trade union branches
• Participation in local employment councils
The Danish Confederation of Trade
Unions, LO
Web sites
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LO's structure www.lo.dk/english
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Are you okay www.erduok.dk
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LO Youth www.lo-ungdom.dk
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The Job Patrol www.jobpatruljen.dk
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LO plus: www.loplus.dk
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A4, LO's weekly newsletter www.ugebreveta4.dk/
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The LO/FTF Council http://www.ulandssekretariatet.dk/
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History of the labour movement www.pladstilosalle.dk
The Danish Confederation of Trade
Unions, LO
LO’s political management
Lizette Risgaard,
President
Nanna Højlund,
Vice-President
Arne Grevsen,
First VicePresident
Morten Skov
Christiansen,
VicePresident
Ejnar K. Holst,
Vice-President
The Danish Confederation of Trade
Unions, LO