The 2013 Danish Union of Teachers' Congress has been held on 10-12 September 2013, 4 resolutions were adopted.
Democracy must be enhanced
In the wake of the financial crisis, an increasing number of political decisions are made on the basis of economic necessity. In reality, crucial political reforms are being decided by a few powerful politicians on the basis of civil service calculations, without prior open political debate and social dialogue. Consequently, the Danish Union of Teachers will continue to work actively on enhancing democratic principles in the political decision-making process.
Theft at broad daylight
With the statutory intervention that stopped the one-month-long lockout of Danish teachers, the Danish government removed about DKK 300 million annually from the previous collective agreement funding. The Confederation of Teachers Unions has repeatedly requested that the Danish government address this matter; however this has been ignored by the government. The Minister for Employment confirmed that the government had involved the employers in connection with the intervention. It is unheard of that the government only involves one of the parties.
The Danish government is gambling with the Danish bargaining model
The government’s actions during the collective bargaining negotiations in the education area undermine the Danish collective bargaining model. The Danish collective bargaining model is a unique opportunity for taking joint responsibility for the challenges we are facing. The Danish Union of Teachers is encouraging employees and employers to stand united to defend the Danish model.
We are fighting for the future of the school
In today’s competitive society focus has changed; today the main objective of schools and the entire educational system is to educate efficient labour. We need a broad public debate and conscious political choices about how we prepare the Danish public basic school to qualify pupils for the future labour market as well as to become citizens in a democratic society.