Dane here and we have a similar system. This is basically the “nordic model” where the employers and employees work together (through their organizations) every couple of years to write the rules for employment. It’s also generally only during those negotiations that strikes and lockouts can occur, at all other times it’s not permitted if you’re covered by a CBA. The government only steps in if the parties can’t come to an agreement on their own which happens very rarely (in Denmark it happened in the private sector in 1998 and not since, even with inflation and covid making negotiations hard).
Since this stuff is mostly regulated outside the political system politicians rarely want to step in. Companies can forego a CBA but unions can always pressure them to accept one. The solidarity strikes are often the most potent weapon since you can then target the entire value chain of a company as happens with Tesla in Sweden. McDonalds in Denmark is also quite the story https://mattbruenig.com/2021/09/20/when-mcdonalds-came-to-denmark/
As to those not covered by CBAs in Denmark we have “tjenestemænd” where the law directly regulates working conditions and who can’t strike. I’m not sure about the history of that system but my understanding is it’s on its way out as it can otherwise be expensive to pay out pensions to tjenestemænd. Tjenestemænd also can’t strike so it’s a different system altogether
Dane here and we have a similar system. This is basically the “nordic model” where the employers and employees work together (through their organizations) every couple of years to write the rules for employment. It’s also generally only during those negotiations that strikes and lockouts can occur, at all other times it’s not permitted if you’re covered by a CBA. The government only steps in if the parties can’t come to an agreement on their own which happens very rarely (in Denmark it happened in the private sector in 1998 and not since, even with inflation and covid making negotiations hard).
Since this stuff is mostly regulated outside the political system politicians rarely want to step in. Companies can forego a CBA but unions can always pressure them to accept one. The solidarity strikes are often the most potent weapon since you can then target the entire value chain of a company as happens with Tesla in Sweden. McDonalds in Denmark is also quite the story https://mattbruenig.com/2021/09/20/when-mcdonalds-came-to-denmark/
As to those not covered by CBAs in Denmark we have “tjenestemænd” where the law directly regulates working conditions and who can’t strike. I’m not sure about the history of that system but my understanding is it’s on its way out as it can otherwise be expensive to pay out pensions to tjenestemænd. Tjenestemænd also can’t strike so it’s a different system altogether