Beskæftigelsesudvalget 2014-15 (1. samling)
BEU Alm.del Bilag 45
Offentligt
REPORT IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF
DEVELOPMENTS
Complaint against the Government of Denmark presented by
the Danish Union of Teachers (DUT)
supported by
the Salaried Employees and Civil Servants Confederation (FTF)
Allegations:
The complainant organization alleges that the Government violated the principle of
bargaining in good faith during the collective bargaining process and extended and renewed the col-
lective agreement through legislation without consultation of the workers’ associations concerned
230. The complaint is contained in communications from the Danish Union of Teachers (DUT),
supported by the Salaried Employees and Civil Servants Confederation (FTF), dated 29 August and
15 October 2013.
231. The Government forwarded its response to the allegations in communications dated 15 October
and 25 November 2013.
232. Denmark has ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Con-
vention, 1948 (No. 87), the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98),
and the Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention, 1978 (No. 151).
A. The complainant’s allegations
233. In its communications dated 29 August and 15 October 2014, the DUT alleges the violation by
the Government of Conventions Nos 87, 98 and 151, all ratified by Denmark.
234. The complainant indicates that the DUT negotiates the collective agreements for teachers every
second or third year with two employers’ organizations: Local Government Denmark (LGDK) and
the Ministry of Finance. The LGDK is the organization representing the municipalities, i.e. the em-
ployers for teachers in primary and lower secondary schools; in this regard, the Government has leg-
islative power with regard to curricula, syllabus, etc., as well as issues related to the content of teach-
ing. In relation to other educational institutions such as colleges, universities, vocational education,
training institutions and private but state-funded schools, the Government carries both legislative and
employer tasks; its function as an employer is carried out by a department within the Ministry of Fi-
nance called “The Agency for the Modernization of Public Administration” (Modernization Agency).
235. This complaint relates to two matters arising from the collective bargaining in 2012–13 between
the Danish Union of Teachers on the one side, and the LGDK and the Modernization Agency on the
other side: (i) the start-up and initial preparations for the 2012–13 collective bargaining; and (ii) the
drafting and preparation of the Government’s regulatory intervention in spring 2013 (Act No. L409).
236. In the complainant’s view, the negotiations with the DUT have been carried out by the Modern-
ization Agency and LGDK in a very tight cooperation and with involvement of the Government. Al-
beit absolutely vital to keep the balance between the legislator and the employer, the role of the em-
ployer and the role of the legislator have not been strictly separated and have even been mixed during
the negotiations. From a very early stage in the collective negotiations, LGDK could not carry out
free, voluntary and true negotiations.
237. The complainant indicates that the negotiations concerning renewal of the collective agreements
with effect from 1 April 2013 began in autumn 2012. The finance agreement with the LGDK and the
Government for 2012 stated as follows: “the Government and LGDK agree on strengthening focus
on obtaining more teaching time for the current resources in primary and lower secondary schools
and in upper secondary schools. As part of this process, on the basis of, amongst other things, exist-
ing analyses of teachers’ working hours, there will be collaborative work to assess whether legislation
and the relevant collective agreements provide a good framework for the efficient utilization of
teachers’ resources”. According to the complainant, in the autumn of 2012, the DUT became aware