As the national strike involving more than 550,000 workers enters its 10th day, a resolution seems no closer. Talks between the union representatives, LO, and the employers group, DA, have collapsed and no further meeting is planned.
The latest offer, flatly rejected by the unions, involved an extra two days' holidays for workers with children. However, this would also mean a cut in pension entitlements. DA has said the cut in pensions is necessary to keep the package within the set framework of its offer.
Mr Hans Jensen, the leader of the union negotiators at the talks, has said that unless the employers expand the financial frame of the offer there is no reason to continue negotiations. The unions are demanding an extra week paid holiday.
With both sides entrenched, unless the government intervenes Denmark could face another week of chaos. After the collapse of the talks key economic ministers met the Prime Minister, Mr Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, to discuss possible intervention measures to end the strike. It is thought that if they are to force the workers back with a resolution from parliament this will happen before Friday, when they break for the Amsterdam Treaty campaign. Otherwise a special sitting may be called next week. Unions have hinted they will call for a "no" vote in the referendum if the government acts against them.
For the Danish people, this means continued fuel shortages and more severe food shortages. Already on the island of Zealand, where Copenhagen is situated, fuel shortages have left weekday streets resembling a quiet Sunday afternoon. HT, the bus company, estimates it has enough fuel to provide a minimal service until Sunday. Taxis continue to run but, with only one fuel company operating outside the strike, drivers are spending hours queuing for petrol.
On Denmark's second-largest island, Fyn, regional bus services have already stopped, leaving many of those not involved in the strike stranded at home. Trains continue to run, but with cleaning workers on strike many are littered with rubbish. In the hospitals all scheduled operations have been cancelled and only emergency cases are being accepted. Hospital waste has been building up and doctors fear that if the strike continues for another week they may have to shut down wards for reasons of hygiene. They have also reported difficulties in getting food for patients.
Early in the strike a guarantee was given that milk and bread would be delivered. Due to fuel shortages, however, deliveries to small outlying regions have being affected and milk companies are running out of cartons.
In a tactical battle between unions and management, 45,000 retail and shop workers were locked out yesterday. All were members of a union, HK, which is not involved in the strike. This has meant that many shops are being run by trainee staff and management, with large queues in even the more upmarket stores.
The strike is beginning to affect German car production. Behr Gmbh, manufacturer of air-conditioning units for a quarter of all cars built in Germany, produces many of its vital components in Denmark.
Newspapers can no longer deliver to stores and as a result more and more Danes are turning to the Internet for daily news.
There has been a reduction in the number of break-ins as most people stay at home, either on strike or unable to get to work due to the fuel shortages.
