The Homeworkers' Union (Danish: Husligt Arbejder Forbund, HAF) was a trade union representing social and health workers in Denmark.

The union was established on 15 November 1899 by about 30 women, as the Copenhagen Maids' Union, on the initiative of Marie Christensen.^[1] 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.^[2] In 1915, it became the Home Assistants' Trade Union.^[3]

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.^[4] In 1946, the union changed its name again, becoming the "Homeworkers' Union".^[5]

By 1991, the union had 73,964 members, of whom 98.8% were women.^[6] From the 1980s, changes in the health and social care sectors led the union to compete for members with the Danish Municipal Workers' Union. In December 1992, the two merged, to form the Union of Public Employees (FOA).^[7]

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