In June, the construction unit of the 3F union announced the investment of DKK 10 million (€1.3 million) against social dumping, aiming to enforce Danish collective agreements in foreign businesses, which are proliferating in the country. This extraordinary effort involves national and local structures that will “visit” sites across the country where, according to the union, at least one in three foreign businesses, notably from Eastern Europe, is working illegally. Indeed, despite the crisis, the number of eastern European workers in Denmark has been increasing: 61,340 in April 2012, 16 percent up from 2011 which several experts say shows that there is still work, when the employment rate for Danish people in the construction industry is still falling: from 143,300 down to 141,000 workers in the last quarter (with the lowest record for builders: -13.2 percent). The fear of losing one’s job because of underpaid eastern European workers is increasing and affecting one in three 3F members. Hence heightened action which also aims to organize eastern European workers so their working conditions no longer represent unfair competition for the union’s other members.
The fear of losing one’s job because of underpaid eastern European workers is increasing and affecting one in three 3F members. Hence heightened action which also aims to organize eastern European workers so their working conditions no longer represent unfair competition for the union’s other members.
Government in the front line. In this fight, 3F found a major ally in the current government. Last January, when the 2012 Finance Act was passed, an agreement between the government and the En
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