Danes stockpile food and fuel as strike bites

Denmark is in a state of shock. Almost one-in-10 of its five million population is on strike in one of Europe's richest countries. The unions have rejected a nationwide pay rise of 8.5 per cent over two years. And they are also demanding a sixth week of paid holidays each year.

Last Friday, as the announcement was made on television confirming that over 500,000 workers would strike from Monday, few Danes were sitting at home to watch. Most were either frantically clearing supermarket shelves or filling every available empty vessel with petrol.

Denmark, a well-structured and organised society which likes to portray its strong, reasoned nature to others in Europe, is panic-buying and preparing for the worst. And the ever-ready Danes are stockpiling as if preparing for a siege.

Many supermarkets now resemble stores in eastern Europe before the fall of the Berlin Wall. At Copenhagen airport, aircraft lie idle on the tarmac.

The strike, which involves a wide variety of workers, including manufacturing, construction, cleaners and non-state transport workers, has made its greatest impact due to the involvement of delivery men. Everything from fuel to food will have to await delivery until the strike is resolved. Only bread and milk deliveries are secure. Even pharmacies are having problems getting deliveries of some medications.

The Danish parliament has the power to force the strikers back to work and calls for this course of action are growing louder as petrol stations run dry and shelves empty. However, it is not thought likely that the recently re-elected socialist Prime Minister, Mr Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, will dare use these powers before Labour Day on May 1st.

How long the Danish economy, and the Danish public, can withstand this test of endurance after May 1st is another matter. And with the parliament dissolving tomorrow week to canvass for the Amsterdam Treaty on May 28th, time may run out for government action.

In lieu of the extra week's holidays the workers are seeking, industry bosses have offered an extra day off, namely Christmas Eve. Originally accepted by the union negotiators, this offer was rejected by the workers.

It is estimated the strike is costing £1 million per day, a figure that is likely set to rise as sympathy strikes break out throughout the country.