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Despite intense last-minute discussions and new offers from the EI affiliate, the Danish Teachers Union (DLF), the employers’ lock-out of nearly all primary and lower secondary teachers in the whole country has become effective from 1 April. The lock-out prevents approximately 875,000 pupils from receiving their normal education as teachers are not allowed into the schools.

The lock-out of 69,000 teachers comes as the parties have not agreed a new work arrangement. Employers have also been pressing for the lifting of all restrictions and regulations in the current agreement. DLF has refused an agreement without any limits on working-time arrangements.

The conflict has also been intensified by the Danish Government`s wish to reform the education law and provide more lessons to pupils financed by teachers taking more classes per week. DLF has been accused of not being flexible enough and being out of line with modern working arrangements. On the other hand, DLF has accused the Government and the employers of plotting against the teachers by initiating such a huge conflict. It has called on the Government to intervene as the whole society will suffer as a result.

Teachers do not receive any salary during the conflict, but DLF is offering partial compensation from the strike funds.

DLF: Government must respect the “Danish model”

“The so-called ‘Danish model’ is characterised by negotiations between the employers’ organisations and the employees’ ones  – without any interference by the government – about pay, working hours and other employment conditions,” explained DLF President Anders Bondo Christensen. “These are collective agreements, mutually binding for the parties. And both parties feel ownership and responsibility for the agreements.”

In Denmark, collective agreements are in force for a period of two to three years, agreed upon by the parties. They imply that neither the employers nor the employees can initiate industrial action. Possible disagreements during the agreement period, e.g. about the interpretation of the agreement, are settled via conciliation or by a special Labour Court. When the collective agreements expire, the parties have to (re)negotiate the agreements.

Government and trade unions disagree on teacher preparation time

On this occasion, the collective bargaining negotiations have been marked by the government’s proposal for school reform presented at the end of 2012. If this reform is implemented, pupils will stay in school for much longer hours than is the case now.

This reform bill depends on an increase in teachers’ working hours on those specified in the 2008 collective agreement. Moreover, teachers are expected to participate in “activity lessons” together with the school’s pedagogues. The activity lessons are planned as a support for the teaching lessons, as well as for playing, physical activities and help with homework.

“The Government is not the employer of the teachers of the public primary and lower secondary schools (the ‘ folkeskole’),” highlighted Bondo Christensen. “The municipalities are the folkeskole teachers’ employers. At national level, that is the association of the 98 municipalities, the Local Government Denmark (LGDK). The State, nevertheless, is the employer of a number of teachers in upper secondary schools and private schools receiving state subsidies. The State’s employer role is then carried out by the Finance Ministry.”

The demands of all teacher organisations have been the same, he said. The Finance Minister confirms that demands have been coordinated, but denies that there is a master plan for negotiations, including government intervention through legislation that may end the lockout.

EI: Protest letters request serious negotiations

EI region, the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), has sent protest messages to the Danish Government and asked its member organisations to do the same. As a result, protest letters from all over Europe have been sent to the Danish Government.

“ETUCE supports the Danish teachers. It is a very serious conflict, and the employers and the Government have not negotiated seriously,” said the European Director Martin Rømer.

“If they succeed with this, other groups may face the same next time. And they will damage further the so-called ‘Danish Model’, where there has always been a tradition of finding a compromise.”

Danish teachers from across the country, together with other public servants, will gather in front of the national Parliament in Copenhagen to lobby for a solution to the lock-out on 11 April.