by Anders Fenger, journalist Dagbladet Arbejderen (The Daily Worker) in Denmark
35 working-hours a week would create 40.000 new jobs in Denmark, predicts a study made by a tradeunion in the country.
The struggles in France and Italy for the 35-hours week now encourages danish tradeunionists.
A study made by the local tradeunion of workers in the metallic industries in the city of Horsens, shows, that the country would benifit from the 35-hours.
Not only forego of overtime work will secure the creation of tens of thousands new jobs. Also the accomplishment of another of the crucial demands made by active workers in connection to the collective bargaining 1998 will secure jobs for a great number of unemployed in Denmark, says the study, which is published just before the upcoming conference for hundreds of shop stewards anf tradeunion-activists in the metallic industries.
A cut in the workinghours by only two hours a week is much more forcefull than for example granting one more week of vacation, stresses the study by Metal-Horsens.
Not only in the little scandinavian country, workers have been struggling for the 35-hours - without a decrease of wages - also in the rest of western Europe tradeunions have raised the question.
The nationwide federation of metalworkers in Denmark (DANSK METAL) does not raise the question of 35-working hours at the upcoming collective bargaining, but the expected 200 attendants of the progressive, national left wing conference of shopstewards and tradeunionists in the metalindustries have beforehand promised to work actively for the popular demand of 35-hours a week.
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