HK - in English

Almost a century of progress

HK was founded in 1900 with the purpose of organising commercial and clerical employees in order to improve their salaries and working conditions.

At the time the conditions for these retail trade and office employees were often humiliating, with a 12 to 16 hours' working day and a small or no salary.

During its first 30 years the union succeeded in securing the first collective agreements and establishing an unemployment fund.

In spite of vehement opposition from the employers and the non-socialist parties HK joined the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) in 1932. This strengthened the union's work for its members.

In 1938 the first Act on Salaried Employees was passed by Parliament, and the first national collective agreement was negotiated with the Danish Employers' Confederation (DA) in 1948.

As times hve changed, HK's work has changed accordingly. Today most of our activities are aimed at securing equal pay for equal work for women and men, and supplying personal consultancy services to our members on issues such as salary, employment conditions and supplementary training. We carry to court several trade union cases where members are in conflict with their employers, negotiate a great number of nation-wide agreements and support our shop stewards in their important work at their workplaces. We generally seek to secure a high level of employment.

Collective agreements

Collective agreements have been an important tool on the labour market since 1899 when the Danish Employers' Confederation (DA) and the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) were forced to recognise each other after a six-month'-long strike/lock-out.

The main principle is that the collective agreements are nation-wide. The social partners usually negotiate without government intervention and schedule the period of duration for the agreement (normally a 2-year-period). No strikes may occur while the agreement is in force (neither partner will employ strike or lock-out); disputes or disagreements on interpretation are to be settled through negotiations or arbitration (at the request of either partner).

As a supplement to the bargaining system, the Danish Parliament and government have established the Conciliation Board on Labour Disputes and the Industrial Court.

Normally, the agreements contain the following:

After each collective bargaining a ballot on the contents of the agreement is taken among the members of the unions, and among the employers. If one of the parties rejects the result, it can lead to a large number of the employees going on strike or being locked-out. However, the collective bargainings seldom end up in a dispute.

In preparation for a possible dispute, both the employers and various trade unions have set up large dispute funds.

Our members

With more than 300.000 members HK is one of the largest trade union federations in Denmark. About 75% of HK's members are women.

Our members work as:

HK has always paid special attention to the young generation. This means, among other things, that more than 40,000 of our members are trainees, and that more than 80,000 members are under the age of 30.

Our principal aims

Our aims are set out in the constitution of HK, and are as follows:

HK's organisational structure

HK consists of 7 local branches in addition to the head office in Copenhagen. The role of the union is to co-ordinate the activities of the branches, serve as information centre for all the branches and to co-ordinate and carry out collective bargaining. It also provides legal assistance for our members and seeks political influence in the Danish Parliament, in the EU and internationally.

In order to co-ordinate the union's activities in the best possible way, it is divided into four sectors, a division which handles general trade union and political tasks and, finally, HK's unemployment fund.

The four sectors are:

HK employs more than 1,000 people in order to provide service to its members.

The General Board

The General Board is HK's highest authority and consists of 46 members.

The Congress elects a president, a vice-president and 39 members representing the regional HK branches. They are all elected for a four-year-period and meets 4-5 times every year. The board also contains one representative from the youth-branch.

Furthermore, the president, the vice-president and four representatives from the sectors comprise the union's Daily Management.

Daily Management appoints a number of sub-committees which deal with various issues such as labour market politics, organisation development, working environment, etc.

80% of the work force are organised

More than 70% of the people between the ages of 16 and 67 years are active members of the workforce, which comprises 2.86 million of the 5.3 million Danes. Approximately 70% of the working population are organised in a union.

HK belongs to the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), which consists of 18 affiliated unions with a total of 1 million members. Furthermore, there are the Salaried Employees & Civil Servants Confederation (FTF) with 450,000 members and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) with 200,000 members.

LO, FTF and AC co-operate in all essential trade union and political issues.

Collective agreements

Collective agreements have been an important tool on the labour market since 1899 when the Danish Employers' Confederation (DA) and the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) were forced to recognise each other after a six-month'-long strike/lock-out.

The main principle is that the collective agreements are nation-wide. The social partners usually negotiate without government intervention and schedule the period of duration for the agreement (normally a 2-year-period). No strikes may occur while the agreement is in force (neither partner will employ strike or lock-out); disputes or disagreements on interpretation are to be settled through negotiations or arbitration (at the request of either partner).

As a supplement to the bargaining system, the Danish Parliament and government have established the Conciliation Board on Labour Disputes and the Industrial Court.

Normally, the agreements contain the following:

After each collective bargaining a ballot on the contents of the agreement is taken among the members of the unions, and among the employers. If one of the parties rejects the result, it can lead to a large number of the employees going on strike or being locked-out. However, the collective bargainings seldom end up in a dispute.

In preparation for a possible dispute, both the employers and various trade unions have set up large dispute funds.

Individual contracts

Even though the majority of HK members are covered by an agreement, a number of our members, who work in small workplaces, are not covered by any agreements. Also for them a membership of HK is important. We can provide advice regarding their individual employment contract, ensuring that their salaries and working conditions are at level with the rest of the labour market. In addition, we will naturally assist them, if they experience any problems in connection with their employment situation.

Labour market policy and unemployment insurance

An important aim for HK is to obtain the highest possible employment rate in Denmark. This is the reason why we work actively to secure that our members develop the adequate qualifications and skills at all times.

Nation-wide, HK is carrying out targeted training projects for our members, and advises our members on relevant offers regarding supplementary training courses and further education.

A large number of these projects are carried out in co-operation with the employers. One example is a project where unemployed members are employed for a limited period of time, hence maintaining and developing skills while permanent staff members improve their educational qualifications at e.g. business colleges.

These activities involve the entire Danish trade union movement, and have contributed to the still rather low unemployment rate in Denmark (4,5% in 2010).

However, for members who have lost their jobs, a membership of HK's Unemployment Insurance Fund is a safeguard against economic and social ruin.

Unemployment Insurance Fund

The Unemployment Insurance Fund is largely government subsidised but, unlike unemployment funds in many other countries, it is controlled by the individual trade unions in accordance with parliamentary acts which are administered by the Ministry of Labour.

All employees are entitled to join the union's unemployment scheme. After one year's membership and 52 weeks of full-time work within 3 years the members are eligible to receive unemployment benefits. The unemployed are then entitled to 90% of their wages from the previous 13 consecutive weeks, i.e. there is a maximum limit for both full-time and part-time employees.

The Danish model

Since 1899 a labour market model has developed in Denmark, consisting of binding bipartite and tripartite co-operation agreements between the trade union movement, employers' organisations and the government.

Consequently, almost all collective bargaining is concluded without government intervention whereas all significant legislative bodies regulating the labour market are normally tripartite bodies. Regional labour market policy is carried out in co-operation between the social partners and the government, and trade unions and employers have a high degree of influence on vocational training in Denmark.

HK, therefore, has a high degree of influence on commercial and clerical education, and representatives from local HK branches often participate in the education of our future members and colleagues.

We consider it a great advantage that the social partners are involved in the development of the future labour market. After all, they know the needs of both employers and employees.

Membership fee

The membership fee is decided by our General Board and consists of a fixed monthly amount, the size of which depends on whether the member is a full-time employee, part-time employee or an apprentice. The membership fee is equivalent to between 1 and 2 per cent of a member's salary.

The fee is paid to the union head office which consequently distributes the money. Apart from the large contribution to the unemployment insurance fund, which is passed on to the state, the remaining money is distributed between the union head office and the regional branches. Only a small sum is assigned to local workplaces.

Except for the unemployment insurance fund, all costs in connection with the operation of HK are financed by the members.

Free membership during education

When young people embark upon an education within the commercial and clerical field, HK makes them an offer they cannot refuse: A free membership for the duration of their study period. This means that about 70% of all the young people who attend a business college in Denmark are members of HK.

Offers to our members

We take globalisation seriously

Since 1989 HK has given a high priority to its international commitments. We actively attempt to influence the development of the social dimension of the EU, and we participate in the work of a number of Nordic, European and international trade secretariats.

To HK the most important memberships are the following: UNI, PSI and EURECO.

At the same time, HK has co-operated in a reorganisation of the Central and Eastern European trade union movement in the Baltic States, Poland, Slovakia, Bosnia and Romania. Hundreds of trade union representatives have received training from HK's trainers and are teaching on the basis of the instructional principles they have learned from us.

In Africa and Asia, HK is also involved in training our colleagues to become even more efficient trade union representatives. This takes place through a large number of educational projects to which HK and other Danish trade unions are committed.

How to contact HK/Denmark

We are always interested in establishing contacts with active trade unions and their members around the world as we find it important to create international networks, through which wage earners can develop international understanding, co-operation and solidarity.

Please contact us for further information:

HK/Denmark
Weidekampsgade 8
DK-0900 Copenhagen C
Phone +45 70 11 45 45
Fax +45 33 30 40 99
E-mail: hk@hk.dk