The Danish General Workers' Union (, SID) was a general union representing mostly unskilled and semi-skilled workers, in Denmark.
History The union was founded in 1897 as the Danish Workers' Union (DA), becoming the Danish Workers' and Specialist Workers' Union (DASF) in 1959, then in 1974 adopted its final name. It organised workers who were considered unskilled, or semi-skilled, in industries where the most skilled workers were represented by other unions. This sometimes led to conflict, as it argued that the lowest-paid workers should receive the highest wage increases, to reduce pay differentials.
Over the years, numerous smaller unions have merged in to the Metalworkers' union. These include:
1934: Danish Land Workers' Union 1971: Danish Glass Workers' Union 1972: Danish Gardeners' Union 1973: Danish Paviours' Union 1978: Danish Drivers' Union 1983: Paper Industry Workers' Union 1988: Ceramic Confederation 1994: Danish Union of Bricklayers 1994: Danish Seamen's Union 1998: Danish Clothing and Textile Workers' Union 2000: Graphics Federation (stationery section) 2001: Danish Postal Union 2001: Brewery Workers' Union
The union affiliated to the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) on formation, but left in 1925, rejoining in 1937. From its formation until 1990, the SID was the largest union in Denmark, but it was then surpassed by the Danish Union of Commercial and Clerical Employees. By 1997, it had 319,680 members, of whom about 37% worked in production, 31% in construction, 24% in transport, and the remainder in various other sectors.
At the end of 2004, the union merged with the Danish Women Workers' Union, to form the United Federation of Danish Workers.
Presidents 1897: Michael Christian Lyngsie 1931: Axel Olsen 1947: Christian Larsen 1957: Alfred Petersen 1964: Viggo Wivel 1968: Anker Jørgensen 1972: Ejler Sønder 1979: Hardy Hansen 1995: Poul Erik Skov Christensen
References