The Homeworkers' Union ( da, Husligt Arbejder Forbund, HAF) was 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 (s ...
representing social and health workers in
Denmark
)
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The union was established on 15 November 1899 by about 30 women, as the Copenhagen Maids' Union, on the initiative of Marie Christensen. In 1904, it absorbed the Regional Maids' Union, the Odense and Region Maids' Union, and the Aalborg and Region Maids' Union, to become the Danish Service Girls' Union. In 1915, it became the Home Assistants 'Trade Union.
In 1936, the Union for Home Aid and Porters at the State Hospitals merged into the union, and it thereafter also recruited men, and domestic staff in hospitals. By 1937, the union had 1,400 members. In 1946, the union changed its name again, becoming the "Homeworkers' Union".
By 1991, the union had 73,964 members, of whom 98.8% were women.
From the 1980s, changes in the health and social care sectors led the union to compete for members with 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 ...
. In December 1992, the two merged, to form the
Union of Public Employees (FOA).
[{{cite web , title=DKA og HAF sammenlægges , url=https://www.foa.dk/forbund/om-foa/foas-historie/1990erne/dka-og-haf-sammenlaegges , website=FOA , accessdate=10 February 2020]
Presidents
:1899: Marie Christensen
:1915: Fridag Langwagen
:1916: Hansigne Sandberg
:1917: Marie Olsen
:1918: Margrethe Agerby
:1919: Marie Christensen
:1927: Wilhelmine Jørgensen
:1938: Andrea Jørgensen
:1953: Marie Nielsen
:1966: Ruth Kristensen
:1979: Lilli Frederiksen
:1980: Bodil Mogensen
:1986: Margit Vognsen
References
Healthcare trade unions in Denmark
Trade unions in Denmark
Trade unions established in 1899
Trade unions disestablished in 1992