The modernisation of trade unions in Denmark

Abstract

The experience of the past 20 years of declining membership rates in most European countries is no doubt the main reason for identifying a crisis of trade unionism, prompting a direct opportunity to look further into what might be the reason, what has gone wrong and what should be done to modernise trade unions to get them back on the main track again. In Denmark, however, declining membership rates are not the starting point for investigating what unions could do better. Unlike most other European trade unions, the Danish trade unions have experienced a constant increase in trade union membership rates - approximately 80% of all wage earners are unionised in 1994 - but this does not indicate that trade unionism in Denmark does not have any problems. Neither does it mean that the unions are beyond criticism nor that they do not need to implement changes in a modernising effort. The unions are aware of this and indeed so are their critics.

To evaluate the necessity for modernisation, the changes in society - especially changes in working life and the political/ideological environment - are a starting point, and this is closely connected to the second topic to be dealt with here, namely the changing contours of the (potential) members. Thirdly to be discussed are issues and trends in collective bargaining, including the international perspectives, and fourthly trade union structures and internal functioning. Finally some main perspectives of change will be pointed out concentrating on the role of trade unions in society and membership participation.