Danish workers ordered back

Press, 1 April 1985, Page 6

Danish workers ordered back

NZPA-Reuter Copenhagen

The Danish Parliament has rushed through laws ordering 300,000 private sector workers back to work from a crippling labour dispute. In an extraordinary session on Saturday, the'Folketing (parliament) narrowly voted to give the Government power to enforce a return to work and prevent some public employees joining the strike for higher wages. After a 10-hour session, the minority Centre-Right coalition won the right to intervene by 85 votes to 80 in the 179-seat Parliament, helped by a deal it struck with the opposition Radical Party. The formula offers twoyear wage deals to private and public employees, increasing wages 2 per cent this year and 1.5 per cent next year.

The return-to-work package will also increase corporation tax from 40 to 50 per cent, curb profits and prices, reduce employers’ social security contributions and force those on higher incomes to save a percentage of their pay. Some unionists called for a general strike. The leader of the powerful Semi-skilled Workers’ Union, Mr Hardy Hansen, said refusal to obey the law could cost enormous fines. The combined strike and lockout in the private sector halted transport of food and fuel, stopped planes and many ferries, and paralysed work at most factories and building sites.

The Government decided to end the dispute because it was too damaging to society. The strike appeared to have had little effect on everyday life. Food and drink have not run out in shops and power stations have been little affected.