Main tasks of CO-industri:
- Collective bargaining
- Negotiations concerning industrial disputes
- Wage systems
- Cooperation committees
- Advice and service to:
- Shop stewards
- Safety representatives
- Members of cooperation committees
- Employee representatives on the boards of directors of public limited companies
- Employment
- Industrial policy
- Energy policy
- Education and training
- Financial and legal advice
- Technology
- Health and safety at work
- External environment
- Mental health and safety at work
- Industrial Pension scheme
- International work
- The EU
- European Works Councils (EWC)
An organisation with traditions
CO-industri (The Central Organisation of Industrial Employees in Denmark) was founded in 1992. The organisation which is an association of trade unions formed to look after common interests was formed as CO-Metal (The Central Organisation of Danish Metal Workers) on 1 July 1912 by three trade unions. The objective was to ensure reasonable pay and working conditions for members of the iron and metal industries.
Today, nine unions for employees in the industrial sector are united in the cartel CO-industri which consists of workers employed on a time-rate basis as well as technical and administrative workers employed on a salaried basis in Danish industry.
CO-industri negotiates collective agreements
CO-industri negotiates collective agreements with the employers in DI – Confederation of Danish Industry, in major areas: workers employed on a time-rate basis and administrative and technical workers employed on a salaried basis in industry. Further, CO-industri has entered into collective agreements with a number of industrial enterprises outside DI – Confederation of Danish Industry
The agreements concern pay systems, working time, holidays, days off, maternity leave, pay during illness, pension, education and training, rules of employment and notice, shift and night work, mental health and safety at work etc.
The overall framework of the collective agreements is supplemented by local agreements, negotiated by the parties at the enterprises.
During the periods between the conclusions of collective agreements, technical and legal advice is provided by CO-industri on any disagreements concerning collective agreements.
Employment and industrial policy
CO-industri takes an active part in the debate on industrial policy in order to maintain and create jobs. CO-industri is member of a number of councils and committees working on legislation and activities to promote employment, industrial development, innovation and research.
Together with the employers at DI, CO-industri has established regional, industrial committees throughout the country.
Education and training and co-operation
CO-industri is working actively to ensure that the knowledge and competencies of industrial workers are continuously updated and developed.
CO-industri participates in a large number of activities through the Industrial Training and Cooperation Fund (IUS) and the Competence Development Fund of Industry (IKUF): courses, conferences, marketing of vocational courses, technological development, development of education and training and studies in as well Denmark as abroad.
Through the SUM training project, CO-industri cooperates with employers on the strategic development of employees and, through TEKSAM, on the development of technology and cooperation.
Health and safety at work and the external environment
CO-industri coordinates activities on health and safety at work and the external environment, and it provides assistance to unions in concrete cases.
Industrial workers and employers are jointly making an intense environmental effort, nationally as well as internationally. The workers’ secretariat at the Industrial Occupational Health Council (I-BAR) is placed at CO-industri. The Council prepares guidelines and information material etc on health and safety at work and participates in the campaigns and activities of the Danish Working Environment Service and can also provide advice to employees and enterprises.
At the international level
CO-industri is not only looking after the interests of wage and salary earners in Denmark but is also operating internationally, e.g. through cooperation projects and participation in the international federations of trade unions in the metal, chemistry, energy, food, industrial and textile industries.
CO-industri participates in the work on transposing EU directives into Danish rules through agreements between the social partners.
Information
CO-industri publishes CO-Magasinet. It is aimed primarily at shop stewards, safety representatives, employee representatives on the boards of directors of public limited companies and others holding positions of trust, as well as trade unions and their branches.
CO-industri’s home page www.co-industri.dk provides the latest information and news, including CO-Magasinet, press releases, courses and many other items of information. Furthermore, you can find, download or order booklets and printed papers directly via the homepage.
Trade unions, branches and shop stewards can obtain access to collective agreements, industrial arbitration, CO notes, CO-DI agreements etc. on the closed part of the homepage. Here, you can also find a special company service for employee representatives on the boards of directors of public limited companies as well as a special EWC service.
Political structure
CO-industri consists of a number of trade unions for the employees of the industrial sector. The decisions are made partly by Central Management (CM), which is a committee of representatives, and partly by the Executive Committee (EC).
Central Management is the supreme authority of CO-industri, the members of which are appointed by the member organisations according to the laws of CO-industri. Central Management consists of 49 members; 48 from the member unions and the general secretary of CO-industri.
The 15 members of the Executive Committee are elected by the Central Management. In connection with the collective bargaining the committee functions as the bargaining committee of CO-industri. Normally, the Executive Committee has eight yearly ordinary meetings at which the technical and political situations are discussed.
Executive Committee
Claus Jensen, Danish Metalworkers’ Union (DM), President of CO-industri
Mads Andersen, United Federation of Danish Workers, (3F), Vice-president of CO-industri
Henrik Jensen, General Secretary, CO-industri
René Nielsen, Danish Metalworkers’ Union (DM)
Keld Bækkelund Hansen, Danish Metalworkers’ Union (DM),
Hans Daugaard, United Federation of Danish Workers, (3F),
Pia Maul Andersen, United Federation of Danish Workers, (3F),
Kim Jung Olsen, Union of Commercial and Clerical Employees in Denmark (HK/Privat)
Gitte Geertsen, Union of Commercial and Clerical Employees in Denmark (HK/Privat)
Benny Yssing, The Electrical Union (DEF)
Jannik Frank Petersen, Danish Association of Professional Technicians (TL)
Henrik W. Petersen, Danish Union of Plumbers and Allied Workers (B&R)
John Nielsen, Danish Union of Workers in Service Trades
Tonny Olsen, Danish Union of House Painters
Preben Steenholdt Pedersen, Danish Railway Federation
Central Management
The technical/political work of CO-industri is elaborated and discussed in a number of different committees.
FORBUND | MEDLEMSTAL | CL | |
United Federation of Danish Workers | 98.500 | 13 | |
Danish Metalworkers' Union | 85.050 | 12 | |
Union of Commercial and Clerical Employees | 30.250 | 7 | |
Danish Association of Professional Technicians | 6.621 | 4 | |
The Electrical Union | 7.180 | 4 | |
Danish Union of Plumbers and Allied Workers | 600 | 2 | |
Danish Railway Federation | 529 | 2 | |
Danish Union of Workers in Service Trades | 360 | 2 | |
Danish Union of House Painters | 218 | 2 |