The FOA (from da, Forbundet af Offenligt Ansatte) is a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

representing

public sector The public sector, also called the state sector, is the part of the economy composed of both public services and public enterprises. Public sectors include the public goods and governmental services such as the military, law enforcement, infra ...

workers in

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

History

The union was established in December 1992, when the

Danish Municipal Workers' Union The Danish Municipal Workers' Union ( da, Dansk Kommunalarbejder Forbunds, DKF) was a trade union representing local government workers in Denmark. The union was established on 19 March 1899 by 47 workers, as the Copenhagen Municipal Workers' Unio ...

merged with the

Homeworkers' Union The Homeworkers' Union ( da, Husligt Arbejder Forbund, HAF) was a trade union representing social and health workers in Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map ...

, forming the Union of Public Employees (FOA). Changes in the health and social care sectors in Denmark had led to the two unions competing for the same members, and the merger intended to remove this competition. Initially, it had four sectors: social and health care, cooking and cleaning, technology and service, and education. Like its predecessors, the FOA affiliated to the

Danish Confederation of Trade Unions LO, The Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (Danish: ''LO, Landsorganisationen i Danmark'' or simply ''LO'') was founded in 1898 and was an umbrella organisation (the largest of the three national trade union centers in Denmark) for 18 Danish tra ...

(LO), becoming its third largest member. Since 2019, it has been a member of the LO's successor, the

(FH). In January 2005, the Danish Union of Educators also merged into the FOA. As of 2018, the union had 153,985 members. The majority work for local and regional governments, in roles including nursing, firefighting, cooking, cleaning, building maintenance, and bus driving, although a minority work in similar roles in the private sector.

Leadership

Presidents

:1992: Poul Winckler :2005: Dennis Kristensen :2018: Mona Striib

Vice-Presidents

:1992: Margit Vognsen :2004: Mona Striib :2018: Thomas Enghausen

References

External links

* {{Authority control Danish Confederation of Trade Unions Public sector trade unions Trade unions in Denmark Trade unions established in 1992