The European Trade Union Confederation has firmly endorsed its support for the 35-hour week as a major contribution to job creation. Striking employees have been forced back to work by legislation following the biggest industrial action since 1985. The deal was rejected because the proposed settlement did not extend leave time sufficiently beyond five weeks. Under Danish law, the administration must resolve national disputes if unions and employers are unable to negotiate an agreement and the two sides must carry out the decision. The compromise nevertheless gives workers two extra days annual holiday.
Employers are to be compensated through a reduction in their health insurance contributions.
Denmark's last two major strikes, in 1977 and 1985, were also ended by governmental intervention. Since 1945, the government has intervened 10 times in 12 national industrial disputes to impose solution. Some 500,000 workers took part in the protest, which successfully shut down industry, banking and commerce. Although the government said it was willing to talk, the 6,700 telephone workers continue a strike they began on June 18. And the coordinating committee which led the general strike says another is possible in August.