# Danish Confederation of Trade Unions

LO, The Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (Danish: LO, Landsorganisationen i Danmark or simply LO) was founded in 1898 and was an umbrella organisation (the largest of the three national trade union centers in Denmark) for 18 Danish trade unions. At the end of 2018, it merged into the new Danish Trade Union Confederation.

## History

Lizette Risgaard, who became the first ever female President for LO-Denmark in October 2015, had worked her way slowly up the ladder and was for eight years the vice president.
From 2015, LO engaged in negotiations with FTF about a potential merger. This occurred on 1 January 2019, and the LO became part of the new Danish Trade Union Confederation.

## Organisation

In 2016, LO had a membership of about 1.1 million workers (450,000 of them being public sector employees and 650,000 of them being private sector employees). It cooperated with the two other Danish trade union centers: the AC – The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the FTF – Confederation of Professionals in Denmark.
Members of the 18 trade unions of the LO were typically skilled or unskilled manual labourers, tradesmen and blue-collar workers from the working class. Members may have had a vocational education, but not a college or academic degree. A typical LO-member occupied a lower class position in society and earned an hourly wage.
LO-members were e.g. blue-collar workers, cleaners, bus drivers, plumbers, electricians, nursing assistants, hairdressers, painters, cosmeticians, gardeners, iron workers, dairymen, secretaries, technicians, assistants, etc.
The LO was affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC) and the Council of Nordic Trade Unions (NFS).
The LO carried the role of coordinating collective bargaining. It also sought to influence the government and the political parties when it comes to drafting and implementing legislation, especially in relation to labour market policies. It represented the trade union movement's interests on various boards, commissions and committees.

## Affiliates

| Union | Abbreviation | Formed | Reason not affiliated | Year | Membership (1954) |
| Army Privates' and Corporals' Association | HKKF | 1949 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | N/A |
| Association of Dairy Workers | | 1903 | Merged into NNF | 1983 | 3,447 |
| Association of Social Educators | SL | 1979 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | N/A |
| Bakery, Pastry and Mill Workers' Union | | 1892 | Merged into NNF | 1980 | 7,446 |
| Brushmakers' Union | | 1898 | Merged into TIF | 1971 | 651 |
| Ceramic Federation | | 1897 | Merged into SID | 1988 | 3,111 |
| Chimney Sweeps' Union | | 1914 | Merged into Blik og Rør | 1994 | 314 |
| Confectionery and Chocolate Workers' Union | | 1896 | Merged into NNF | 1980 | 1,626 |
| Danish Artist Union | DAF | 1918 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | 200 |
| Danish Boilermakers' Union | | 1897 | Merged into Metal | 1972 | 2,557 |
| Danish Bookbinders' and Stationers' Union | | 1895 | Merged into GF | 1993 | 7,122 |
| Danish Brewery, Distillery and Mineral Water Workers' Union | DBBMF | 1898 | Merged into RBF | 1990 | 8,390 |
| Danish Carpenters' Union | DT | 1890 | Merged into ST | 1970 | 12,270 |
| Danish Central Organisation of Telecommunication Employees | COTD | 1944 | Merged into TKF | 1994 | 11,000 |
| Danish Clothing and Textile Workers' Union | DBTF | 1978 | Merged into SID | 1997 | N/A |
| Danish Clothing Workers' Union | DBAF | 1895 | Merged into DBTF | 1978 | 20,094 |
| Danish Coopers' Union | | 1890 | Merged into ST | | 253 |
| Danish Coppersmiths' Union | | 1902 | Merged into Metal | 1969 | 254 |
| Danish Divers' Union | | 1920 | | | 132 |
| Danish Elite Athletes' Association | DEF-Sport | 1904 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | ? |
| Danish Flour Millers' Union | | 1895 | | | 1,226 |
| Danish Food and Allied Workers' Union | NNF | 1980 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | N/A |
| Danish Football Players' Association | SPF | 1997 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | N/A |
| Danish Foundry Workers' Union | | 1897 | Merged into Metal | 1970 | 2,680 |
| Danish Hairdressers' and Beauticians' Union | DFKF | 1911 | Merged into Dff-S | 2013 | ? |
| Danish Handball Players' Association | | 2004 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | N/A |
| Danish Gardeners' Union | | 1894 | Merged into SID | 1972 | 5,012 |
| Danish Glass Workers' Union | | 1892 | Merged into SID | 1971 | 448 |
| Danish General Workers' Union | SID | 1897 | Merged into 3F | 2004 | 247,917 |
| Danish Hatters' and Furriers' Union | | 1901 | Merged into DBAF | 1959 | 1,307 |
| Danish Hotel and Restaurant Staff Association | | 1933 | Merged into RBF | 1990 | 1,457 |
| Danish Lithographers' Union | | 1895 | Merged into GF | 1993 | 1,469 |
| Danish Locomotive Engineers' Union | | 1925 | Merged into DJF | 1986 | 300 |
| Danish Mechanical Dentistry Workers' Union | | 1907 | | | 107 |
| Danish Metal Grinders' Union | | 1903 | Merged into Metal | 1983 | 1,047 |
| Danish Metal Printers' Union | | 1911 | Merged into Metal | 1967 | 148 |
| Danish Municipal Workers' Union | DKA | 1899 | Merged into FOA | 1992 | 17,380 |
| Danish Painters' Union | Maler | 1890 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | 10,522 |
| Danish Paviours' Union | | 1875 | Merged into SID | 1973 | 198 |
| Danish Postal Union | DPF | 1908 | Merged into SID | 2001 | 8,830 |
| Danish Prison Federation | | 1913 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | 1,740 |
| Danish Quarry and Stoneworkers' Union | | 1897 | Merged into Murer | 1971 | 635 |
| Danish Railway Union | DJF | 1899 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | 10,553 |
| Danish Rope Makers' Union | DRAF | 1897 | Merged into DTAF | 1973 | 495 |
| Danish Seamen's Union | SFD | 1897 | Resigned | 1975 | 4,972 |
| Danish Ship Builders', Riggers' and Sailmakers' Union | DSRS | 1971 | Merged into Metal | 1976 | N/A |
| Danish Ship Builders' Union | | 1892 | Merged into DSRS | 1971 | 1,563 |
| Danish Shoemakers' Union | DSF | 1885 | Merged into DBTF | 1983 | 6,042 |
| Danish Tanners' Union | | 1898 | Merged into Sadel | 1973 | 789 |
| Danish Textile Workers' Union | DTAF | 1885 | Merged into DBTF | 1978 | 22,712 |
| Danish Tobacco Workers' Union | | 1887 | Merged into NNF | 1980 | 7,843 |
| Danish Timber Industry and Construction Workers' Union | TIB | 1997 | Merged into 3F | 2010 | N/A |
| Danish Tin and Plumbing Workers' Union | Blik og Rør | 1890 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | 3,320 |
| Danish Typographical Union | DT-F | 1903 | Merged into GF | 1993 | 8,878 |
| Danish Union of Bricklayers | Murer | 1887 | Merged into SID | 1994 | 11,715 |
| Danish Union of Educators | PMF | 1983 | Merged into FOA | 2015 | N/A |
| Danish Union of Electricians | DEF | 1904 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | 7,700 |
| Danish Union of Joiners | SF | 1885 | Merged into ST | 1970 | 13,475 |
| Danish Union of Joiners and Carpenters | ST | 1970 | Merged into TIB | 1996 | N/A |
| Danish Union of Metalworkers | Metal | 1888 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | 59,329 |
| Danish Union of Professional Technicians | TL | 1919 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | ? |
| Danish Union of Service Employees | Dff-S | 1911 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | 6,186 |
| Danish Union of Slaughterhouse Workers | DSA | 1895 | Merged into NNF | 1980 | 13,020 |
| Danish Vehicle Builders' Union | | 1895 | Merged into Metal | 1976 | 1,489 |
| Danish Women Workers' Union | KAD | 1901 | Merged into 3F | 2004 | 41,081 |
| Danish Woodworkers' Union | TIF | 1895 | Merged into TIB | 1996 | 11,963 |
| FOA | FOA | 1992 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | N/A |
| Glaziers' Union of Denmark | | 1893 | Merged into ST | 1975 | 542 |
| Glovemakers' Union of Denmark | | | Merged into Sadel | 1971 | 331 |
| Gold and Silver Workers' Union of Denmark | | 1891 | Merged into Metal | 1984 | 1,899 |
| Graphics Federation | GF | 1993 | Merged into HK | 2000 | N/A |
| Homeworkers' Union | HA | 1904 | Merged into FOA | 1992 | 4,098 |
| Lighthouse Service Union | | | | | 255 |
| Marine Firemen's Union of Denmark | | 1897 | Merged into Metal | 1980 | 1,750 |
| Metal Workers' Union of Denmark | | 1903 | Merged into Metal | 1968 | 553 |
| National Gastronomic Association | | 1972 | Merged into RBF | 1990 | N/A |
| Paper Industry Workers' Union | | 1895 | Merged into SID | 1983 | 2,089 |
| Picture Frame Workers' Union of Denmark | | | Merged into TAF | 1970 | 100 |
| Private Railway Personnel Union | | 1901 | Merged into DJF | 1984 | 960 |
| Restaurant Trade Union | RBF | 1990 | Merged into 3F | 2006 | N/A |
| Riggers' and Sail Makers' Union | | 1919 | Merged into DSRS | 1971 | 257 |
| Saddlers' and Upholsterers' Union of Denmark | Sadel | 1897 | Merged into ST | 1984 | 5,071 |
| Semi-Skilled Metal Workers' Union | | 1918 | Merged into Metal | 1957 | 1,500 |
| Skilled Cooks' Union | | 1934 | Merged into RBF | 1990 | 1,820 |
| Stucco Workers' Union | | 1920 | | | 49 |
| Telecommunications Union | TKF | 1994 | Merged into Metal | 2003 | N/A |
| Union of Commercial and Clerical Employees in Denmark | HK | 1900 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | 59,812 |
| Union of State Mental Hospital Personnel | | | | | 136 |
| United Federation of Danish Workers | 3F | 2004 | Transferred to FH | 2018 | N/A |
| Waiters' Union of Denmark | | 1931 | Merged into RBF | 1991 | 7,608 |
| Watch Makers' Union | | | | | 775 |

## Presidents

    1898: Jens Jensen
    1903: Christian Martin Olsen
    1909: Carl Madsen
    1929: Vilhelm Nygaard
    1937: Christian Jensen
    1938: Knud V. Jensen
    1939: Laurits Hansen
    1943: Eiler Jensen
    1967: Thomas Nielsen
    1982: Knud Christensen
    1987: Finn Thorgrimson
    1996: Hans Jensen
    2007: Harald Børsting
    2015: Lizette Risgaard