Since then, parallel with the globalization and Europeanization, an extensive amount of international activities has developed that has left its mark on the union's leaders, on the four groups, the secretariats, and locally among shop stewards and members of international committees in districts and branches. Endeavours are also made to include shop stewards in the international work. 

At the same time extensive trade union solidarity and project activities with trade unions in other parts of the world have to be carried out. The international trade union work at home and abroad should be seen in close context with the local trade union jobs. It should be seen as two sides of the same question. With the expression "Solidarity, but also social self-defence" the international work is placed in a context where the solidarity and own interests form a synthesis, but with main emphasis on international solidarity. 

The international work at SiD concentrates on a number of main activities. 

The international trade union cooperation 

SiD is member of 23 Nordic, European and international trade secretariats covering the trades where the SiD organizes Danish wageearners. 

Nordic trade secretariats

- Nordic Factory Workers Federation 

- Nordic Construction Workers and Woodworkers Federation 

- Nordic Food Industry Workers Union 

- Nordic Roadbuilders and Construction Workers Union 

- Nordic Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Committee 

- Nordic Metal Workers Federation 

- European Federation of Agricultural Workers Unions, EFA 

- European Federation of Building and Woodworkers, EFBWW 

- European Miners, Chemical & Energy Workers Federation, EMCEF 

- European Committee of Food, Catering and Allied Workers 

Unions within the IUF, ECF-IUF 

- European Committee of Transport Workers Unions, CTWUEC 

- European TU Committee for Textile, Clothing and Leather 

Workers, TCL 

- European Public Services Union, EPSU 

- European Metal Workers Federation, EMF 

- PTTI, European Committee, PTTI-EC 

International trade secretariats

- International Union of Food Workers, IUF 

- International Transport Workers Federation, ITF 

- International Federation of Chemical/Energy Workers and 

Miners, ICEM 

- International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation, ITGLWF 

- Public Service International, PSI 

- International Metal Workers Federation, IMF 

- Postal, Telegraph and Telephone International, PTTI 

- International Federation of Building and Woodworkers, IFBWW 

In SiD it is a basic principle that there must be a close connection between the national, Nordic, European and international trade union cooperation within the individual sectors. The persons who are responsible for the sector and agreement area in question will therefore also be the persons who follow the respective areas in an international context. This means that some 20-25 trade union shop stewards SiD are constantly involved in the international trade union cooperation. In this way a greater width and a profound engagement in international work is obtained which is at the same time integrated with the local trade union work. Furthermore, the necessary coherence between the activities will be ensured by the International Committee and the International Department in SiD. SiD believes that the role of the international and European trade secretariats must be strengthened, so that they will be able to meet the challenges posed to the trade union movement by the globalization, the transnational companies, and the development in the EU/Europe. SiD is therefore working to obtain additional resources for the international and European trade union secretariats. Consequently, SiD is also trying to ensure that the number of international and European trade secretariats through mergers will be halved, so that they will have increased capacity. Finally, SiD is working to ensure that the Danish trade union movement will more systematically have people placed in the international trade union organizations. 

The EU/Europe

In the course of the years, EU-issues have been the cause of a lot of disagreement in SiD. Active efforts are invested in relation to the European trade secretariats' role in the development of a trade union strategy for Europe. In connection with the social dialogue and EU's labour market policy the work is being followed very closely, and concrete positions are taken from case to case with respect to directives and agreements on the European level. The work is being followed closely by the four groups in SiD. The secretariats follow the development in the EU within their own fields. The Executive Committee bears the general responsibility, and gradually there are EU-issues on the agenda at all meetings. The International Committee endeavours to coordinate the EU-work in the best possible way across the Federation. A clear-cut distribution of the work in the Federation for the individual EU areas and the trade union efforts in the EU/Europe has been adopted by the Executive Committee. In this field, too, the responsibility in the Federation for following the development is collective, and attempts are made to guarantee a strong coordination of attitudes and activities. 

In the years 1994, 1995 and 1996 the Federation has implemented a large-scale educational programme on the EU. About 700 local SiD shop stewards from all parts of the country and the Executive Committee have taken part in study tours to Brussels. This has strengthened the interest in discussing EU-issues, the development in Europe, the trade union movement's role, and not least the question of part agreements and labour market policy on the European level. 

The work of establishing European Works Councils, EWC's, in 1100-1200 large multinational companies with activities in the EU has in cooperation with other unions, the LO and the cartels been followed closely. In SiD an EWC working group with representatives from the four groups, the International Department and the Information Department have followed the development of the European Works Councils. 

A working group has been appointed for mapping out the existing social security arrangements in the European countries and crossborder agreements. It must at the same time assist SiD in formulating a policy in the area. 

SiD's international solidarity activities

The need for international trade union cooperation and solidarity in preparation for a common trade union and political strategy for the trade union movement and the labour movement is today greater than ever. 

SiD's solidarity activities abroad in cooperation with sister organizations are therefore clearly linked up with this need. 

The aim of SiD's international project activities is to: 

1. Strengthen sister unions, to contribute in this way to strengthen the workers' and trade union movement's influence on the development process nationally and internationally; 

2. Intensify the struggle for trade union rights that will improve the workers' living and working conditions; 

3. Put special focus on organizational development, education, trade union women's activities, working conditions and working environment; 

4. Strengthen the trade union cooperation and exchange of experiences between SiD and cooperation partners across the world regions, and in this way also strengthen the trade union south-south cooperation; 

5. Increase the understanding among SiD shop stewards and members of the consequences and possibilities of globalization, and create a direct involvement in international trade union cooperation and solidarity. 

The cooperation is based on three fundamental principles: 

1. SiD and the trade unions, with whom we cooperateonally, are equal partners. 

2. Experiences must be exchanged on the basis of the practical trade union experiences in the countries concerned, to the mutual benefit of the parties. 

3. Project activities will alone be carried out based on the foreign trade unions' needs and priorities, and the activities must be in accordance with their trade union strategy for development. 

By carrying out own bilateral trade union solidarity projects abroad and combining the other trade union cooperation and experiences on federation, branch and workplace level, the sister organizations' strong wish and need for drawing on SiD's practical experience for their own capacity building is fulfilled. It is important to underline this, because the Third World's trade union organizations in terms of projects often exclusively have relations to professional aid organizations (NGO's). 

For SiD it means, conversely, new and very concrete international dimensions of the trade union work. It places its own experience in perspective, and this gives new inspiration. It gives us concrete experience in development policy and trade union work. It gives us added international respect and influence. It signals that attitude and action go hand in hand. It also offers us a possibility of involving members and shop stewards at SiD directly in the international trade union work. Finally, it makes it possible for us to recruit trade union shop stewards for the international trade union organizations. Attitudes and actions are linked up, to the benefit of others, and this will mobilize new resources and create new international dimensions in the daily trade union work. Since 1990 SiD has been extremely active in supporting the reform process in the trade unions in the countries in Eastern and Central Europe and in the former Soviet Union. 2,200 trade union shop stewards from these countries have since 1990 participated in weekly trade union courses in Denmark which SiD has been in charge of. The Danish Democracy Fund has financially supported this activity. Two and three-part courses, which the trade union movement as well as employers and in a few cases the Ministry of Labour of the country concerned takes part in, have also been implemented and been a great success. What is the good of a wellorganized trade union movement, if the employers are unorganized, so that there is no one to negotiate with? Or if the labour market parties are not respected by the politicians? 

In Narva, Estonia, SiD has carried through a large-scale project with education of trade union shop stewards and with education of trainers and of trade union members in the Estonian language. More than 90 per cent of the population in Narva is of Russian origin. The activity has thus contributed to keeping the trade union movement united and to avoiding ethnic conflicts caused by language. Mastering the Estonian language is a condition for being granted citizenship in Estonia. The project was supported by the Danish TA-East Aid Scheme. 

In the autumn of 1996, SiD has in Romania - in cooperation with the Dockworkers' International Training Centre, HIUC, and with support from the TA-East Aid Scheme and the Romanian government - launched a large-scale shop steward and vocational training project in the harbour of Constant, Romania. 

In Albania SiD is in charge of an important development project with the two trade union organizations KSSH and BSDPSH. The project has led to the formation of two trade union schools and must furthermore lead to the establishment of a proper trade union training system for shop stewards in the trade union movement in Albania. As an element of this project SiD has appointed a Danish project manager in Albania for one year in 1996/97. Beyond that, there is cooperation with AMU-Århus (AMU = Labour Market Vocational Training Centre) and the Ministry of Labour's Secretariat for International Cooperation, SISA, on the establishment of an AMU-centre and a new vocational training system in Vlora, Albania. 

During 18 months in 1995/96 SiD temporarily agreed to coordinate all project activities for the International Federation of Building and Woodworkers, IFBWW, with relation to Eastern and Central Europe and the CIS-countries and Mongolia. A large project has been implemented in Mongolia. From the end of 1996 the IFBWW will itself be in charge of the project with a colleague who is the former SiD international project worker responsible for Eastern and Central Europe. 

SiD is also deeply involved in training programmes which other European and international trade secretariats are in charge of in Eastern and Central Europe with financial support from the EU's Phare and Tacis programmes. 

It has been decided to continue the activities with relation to Eastern and Central Europe as well as the CIS-countries during the coming years. The activities and action areas will however be changed. The anticipated admission of these countries to the EU necessitates that the trade union organizations prepare themselves for this job and for their integration in the European trade union movement. This is therefore part of SiD's priorities in the field while we are headed for the year 2000. 

SiD-solidarity in the Third World 

Since the mid-eighties SiD has been actively engaged in its own bilateral trade union solidarity projects in the Third World. 

It started in Nicaragua where SiD with a certain support from 13 other Danish trade unions in the years 1986 to 1989 built a trade union school for the agricultural workers union ATC in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. Many warned us and found the project rather foolhardy. Seven years later there is still a fine, well-functioning school there, and the ATC is itself responsible for the operation of it. 15,000-20,000 persons have participated in activities at this school. The ATC-School is a fine example of a visible developmentpolitical success. 

After that we started establishing a new trade union house and a trade union school in cooperation with the Dockworkers and Fishermen's Union Congemar in Chile's largest port, Valparaiso. The project has been concluded, and the Chileans are themselves responsible for the operation. Then followed a Community Centre (People's House) in El Salvador for the UNTS organization as well as a major trade union training project. This project has now almost been completed. A continuation of it is being considered. 

Solidarity support has through the years been given to sister unions in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, South Africa, South Korea, etc. 

When SiD changed its trade union solidarity work from individual grants to a direct bilateral project cooperation with trade unions in developing countries, it was important that the solidarity became visible in relation to the support base in Denmark. Or put differently, it should be possible to take a snapshot of the solidarity. This required a physical installation. It was therefore also a requirement that SiD-members and others, who were actively engaged in trade union work, became directly involved. So a large building team was sent out. During that historical stage of SiD's solidarity efforts this process was important. We have left some visible results. We intend to keep on doing this, but we are now working even harder to ensure that our efforts will be a help to selfhelp as regards the development of the countries' trade union organizations, so that their capacity will be increased and so that they will become economically sustainable factors in their countries. Material support may be a part of this help, but not the bearing element. Only a few project coordinators and managers are sent out, as it is expensive to station Danes abroad. We try to create broad engagement through a large number of other initiatives that directly involve many SiD shop stewards and members. This will be mentioned later. 

SiD has chosen to delimit its solidarity and project activities in such a way that they will first of all be trade union relevant. Socio-economic, humanitarian, social and other projects in a clear trade union context. We consider such a delimitation necessary, if the Federation's work is to be professional and limited to our national fields of experience. Without such a clear delimitation one will soon become an easy victim who will have to finance all sorts of good deeds that are not the trade union movement's primary concerns. We consider it our main objective to help strengthening the wage-earners and the trade union movement in other countries. We support their own development process - a mobilization process for social and economic change and for trade union rights and democracy . In 1994 SiD's Executive Committee adopted a general strategy for the trade union projects abroad. For such projects we apply for partial financial coverage from Danida, the KU, and others. 

In relation to the third World the following fields of priority have been adopted: 

Central America/Caribbean

At the end of 1996 SiD had eight large solidarity projects going in this region. Two or three other projects are being prepared. SiD has since 1991/92 had a permanent regional project coordinator for Central America and the Caribbean area who is stationed in Managua, Nicaragua. When the ATC-School was built in 1986-89, SiD also had a project manager/building manager stationed in the country. 

The following projects are now in progress in the region: 

Regional Project for Women in Central America {COCENTRA).

The project was initiated in 1994. A fine network has been established between the trade union women in the individual countries, and some good regional activities have been carried out, and in the majority of the six Central American countries there have been many relevant activities in the national women's committees. In 1994 and 1995 alone, almost 5,000 women took part in many of the project activities, and this has led to increased awareness and qualification of the women which no doubt will strengthen their position in the trade union organizations. The women have managed to put focus on their special problems, and in several of the countries the women have had their special demands included in the collective negotiation rounds, and they have advanced claims with relation to the national legislation. In many places a good cooperation has been established with women's organizations and other NGO's. Six numbers have been issued of the regional trade union journal which is distributed widely. An analysis of the women's situation in Central America is being finalized. There has not been a lot of backing from male trade union leaders in the process. 

The Danish Project Committee with representatives from SiD's Women political Committee has followed the project and taken part in a number of the project's regional meetings in Central America, and it has launched a lot of information activities in Denmark. We are trying to have the project extended by another three years. 

UNTS-Project in El Salvador.

The project was started at the end of 1993. The project comprised partly a new building for training and education and renovation of the existing building, partly educational activities. In the spring of 1997 it will be decided, whether the project should be exceeded. 

CST-Project in Nicaragua.

This project is carried out in cooperation with the Industrial Workers Union, CST, in Nicaragua. It comprises organizational development, including membership campaigns, training, women's activities, education of legal advisers and organization of workers in free trade zones. 

The project was launched in September 1996 and is off to a good start. There have been thorough preparations with planning and elaboration of a working programme and activity plans. The teaching materials are now being produced. A data-processing system for registration of members and collection of trade union dues is being developed. The legal assistant who was appointed as an element of the project has already begun registering some of the trade unions. The first courses were started in November and December 1996. The first women's conference will be held on 8 March 1997. In this connection an SiD-woman will be sent out for one month to follow the project. 

A Danish project committee from SiD's Industrial Group, from SiD's Women-Political Committee and SiD's International Department will follow the project. 

The FNT-project in Nicaragua. 

This project with the trade union confederation FNT was initiated in July 1996. It is financed via the LO/FTF Council's framework agreement with Danida, but is implemented by SiD. 

The project exclusively comprises shop steward training - education of trainers and basic courses Nos. 1-4. The courses are arranged by the FNT in the individual affiliated organizations. The project is managed by a Nicaraguan project manager and monitored by SiD's regional office for Central America/the Caribbean area. A new and independent office has been established in ATC's building. Several employees have been hired, to ensure a better administration of the project. The first courses have been held, and a high activity level has now been planned. In 1997 an SiD assistant will be stationed for three months to follow the project. An international project committee has been established with one representative from the LO/FTF Council, one from the IUF, and one from SiD's International Department. 

Banana Worker Project in Honduras.

The project with the banana worker organization COSIBAH was started in early 1996. A number of good activities have been carried out under the project: an introductory conference in March 1996, education of trainers, initial educational activities, a lot of teaching material has been prepared, a study on working conditions has been published, the first seminar on working conditions has been held. In August the first women's conference will be held. 

A project committee has been established in Denmark with representatives from SiD's Women-Political Committee, the GLS Group and the International Committee in SiD's 8th district (Viborg County). A representative from the Women-Political Committee and a representative from the 8th district participated in the Women's Conference in August 1996 in Honduras. 

The International Committee in the 8th district is deeply involved in the project and is planning to carry out a number of activities in connection with the project. 

Free Trade Zone Project in Honduras.

The project was started in August 1996. SiD-representatives will participate in the project's three conferences in Honduras. 

The project will be closely linked up with the CST-project in Nicaragua (the free trade zone part of it) and the free trade zone project in the Dominican Republic. A Danish project committee, which also covers the project in the Dominican Republic, with a representative from SiD's Manufacturing and Industrial Group and with incorporation of the International Committee in SiD's 11th district (Southern Jutland) as well as SiD's International Department. 

Export Processinq Zone Project in the Dominican Republic.

The project was started in the month of August, The project comprises, inter alia, the holding of a regional seminar with participation of representatives from Honduras and Nicaragua. We will possibly try to involve several Central American countries and maybe representatives from Asia and Africa on account of the very exciting and on-going debate on the export processing zones which are now developing into a global phenomenon. 

We are therefore also going to provide information from Denmark in connection with these projects. 

SiD Youth Project with ATC in Nicaragua.

This project is a direct consequence of SiD's participation in the Danish Youth Council's programme for youth leaders, where a young SiD-person was stationed for nine months in Nicaragua and helped getting youth activities at ATC off the ground. 

In connection with the project a number of activities have been carried through for young people in the Agricultural Workers Union. This has helped making the ATC realize the importance of focusing on education and training of the young. Attempts will now be made to follow un on the project. 

New Projects in Central America/Caribbean area.

A project with the Agricultural Workers Union, ATC, Nicaragua, on organizational development, youth and women's activities is now being prepared. 

It is expected that a trade union project will be launched in Guatemala, now that 36 years of civil war at the turn of the year 1996/97 has come to an end. 

In Cuba, too, a project is underway for preparing/converting the trade union movement to market economy and probably also very soon democratic conditions. 

Palestine/Middle East 

In Palestine a large shop steward training project is being carried out with the Palestinian trade union movement. 

The project is being implemented in close cooperation with the Danish Electricians' Union, DEF. Together, SiD and DEF have had a project manager appointed in Palestine. They also both support a trade union house/office in Jenin in the Northern part of the West Bank. 

SiD/DEF and SISA (the Ministry of Labour's Secretariat for International Cooperation) have since May 1996 had an employee stationed in the Palestinian Ministry of Labour who is to establish a new vocational training system in Palestine. The required legislation has consequently been adopted by the Palestinian National Authorities, the PNA. 

In order to bridge the gap between the trade union movement in Palestine and in Israel, SiD and DEF in 1996 arranged a Democracy Fund Course for trade union leaders from both these trade union movements. The result of it is a closer concrete trade union cooperation in a large number of areas. In the years to come these results will be followed by new initiatives that will strengthen this development. In the spring of 1997 a Democracy Fund Project will be arranged in Denmark on tripartite basis on vocational training systems, so that a knowledge of the Danish vocational training system will make the development of the new Palestinian system easier. 

Southern Africa 

Priority has for a start been given to Mozambique and the South African Union. From the beginning of 1996 a major project on organization and education/training has been launched with the Agricultural Workers Union, SINTAF, and the Dockworkers Union, SINPOCAF, in Mozambique. The duration of the project will be three years. An SiD project manager in Mozambique will be following the project during this period. In the South African Union a project was started in early 1996 with the Agricultural Workers Union, SAAPAWU, whose aim it is to organize agricultural workers and to put an end to forced labour and child labour. An even larger project with the Transport & General Workers Union is in preparation. 

South East Asia 

With the trade union movement in Vietnam, which is undergoing drastic changes as a result of the introduction of marker economy, a large-scale project is planned that from 1998 will adjust the trade union movement to the changed circumstances. 

Also in relation to the Philippines project activities have been planned. 

With DANCED (environmental aid) a working environment project in Malaysia is now being considered. 

Project Groups

In connection with all major SiD-projects abroad, SiD project groups are established with participation of representatives from SiD-groups and secretariats in the Federation as well as local shop stewards from international committee in districts and branches. While the projects are running, shop stewards are sent out a number of times during the course of the project to follow the individual Projects. 

The LO/FTF Council 

The LO/FTF Council is in charge of the multilateral projects that are conducted through the international trade secretariats. They are likewise in charge of projects that are headed by the international trade secretariats of which SiD is a member. It is SiD's demand and objective that these projects become a just as integrated part of SiD's international work as SiD's own bilateral projects. One bilateral trade union project is supervised directly by SiD in Nicaragua according to the LO/FTF Council's framework agreement with Danida. 

Between SiD and the LO/FTF Council a cooperation committee has been established where the project activities of both organizations are coordinated. 

Beyond that SiD has a close cooperation with the international trade secretariats on project activities - SiD's bilateral activities as well as activities through international trade secretariats financed via the LO/FTF Council's framework agreement with Danida and the trade secretariats' other activities. 

International information activities 

SiD attaches great importance to international information activities among shop stewards and members. 

The activities focus on the following subjects: 

* Regular international conferences and courses for SiD branches and shop stewards. 

* As an element of the general shop steward training, SiD as the only Danish trade union arranges two annual courses/study tours for local shop stewards to countries in the Third World. Courses have for instance been held in: South Africa, Palestine, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Mozambique, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Brazil, Chile and Cuba. During the past 15-20 years some 700-800 shop stewards have taken part in them. There is no doubt that this activity has played - and still plays - a central role for the understanding of and engagement in SiD's international affairs. 

* EU study tours to Brussels are part and parcel of the information activities. 

* A lot of information material is published regularly about international affairs. 

* In the SiD-magazine "Fagbladet" there is broad coverage every week of international issues and activities. "Brief Summary of Foreign News" is a fixed column in "Fagbladet". 

* AIF's conferences, courses and study tours are included in the information activities locally and on the national level. Offers from other organizations are also published. 

* An international trainee arrangement has been established since 1993. Through this scheme four shop stewards are stationed abroad each year to follow for one month one or more international SiD-projects in a country in the Third World, or to follow the work in an international trade secretariat. International trainee arrangements are now also being included in SiD's projects in the Third World. The number of stationed people will thus grow in the years to come. 

* SiD participates in the Danish Youth Council's Youth Leader programme. Two young trade unionists from Nicaragua and Chile have visited Denmark for nine months, and two young SiD members have been to Nicaragua and Chile, respectively, for six months each where they took actively part in the work of establishing trade union youth work. After their return home they have contributed with lectures and slide shows at a number of local arrangements. 

* To further strengthen the international involvement in SiD's youth and trainee work a cooperation committee has been established between the Youth Department/Committee and the International Department/Committee. A large international youth conference was held in the autumn of 1996 where preparations were made for a general strategy for the future international youth and trainee work. 

* The work with shop stewards taking part in European Works Councils also helps strengthening the international debate and information activities at company level. 

* Through the international committees in SiD's 12 districts and in the branches endeavours are also made to systematize and increase the local involvement. 

* Attempts have also been made to give SiD's women-political work a clear international dimension from the day the Women political Committee was started. While SiD formerly was almost exclusively a trade union for men, 48,000 out of SiD's 310,000 members are today women. The Women- Political Committee has been on a study tour to Central America as a prelude to the women-political project. The project is followed closely by three of the Committee members. The Women-Political Committee took part in the Women's Conference in Estonia. A Democracy Fund project for trade union women from Estonia will be implemented in 1997. 

Local international committees

During the past 3-4 years international committees have been established in all 12 SiD-districts. All the committees carry out own activities. Each year an international conference is held for the branches in the districts. Most district committees have own largescale projects going with trade unions in Eastern and Central Europe where there are also exchange of experience between trade unionists, visits to places of work etc. involving many local trade union shop stewards. Local shop stewards are also involved in connection with large SiD-projects in other countries. Endeavours are made to attach each individual project to one of the international committees in SiD's districts. The result is that the districts themselves carry out local information activities and develop own exchange activities and Democracy Fund projects. 

The International District Committee has also taken upon itself to strengthen the local AIF-work and to coordinate the efforts invested by the SiD-branches in AIF's county organizations. 

Since 1994/95 we have tried systematically to have as many local branches as possible establish international committees or to elect one or two contact persons. There may also be cases where several SiD-branches join forces and establish a joint international committee in a town or electoral district. Many branches have established international committees, and more are on their way. The globalization, the development in the EU Europe, the establishment of European Works Councils definitely move international issues to shop stewards and members of branches and in companies. Only through systematic efforts can members and shop stewards obtain a freedom of action that looks ahead. Only in this way can SiD and the Danish trade union movement obtain strength and support for active participation in the international trade union and political work with sufficient vigour. 

Each year SiD arranges a conference for all members of the international district committees. It is normally held in Denmark. In 1996, however, in Lithuania with about 100 participants. Three or four times a year there are coordination meetings for representatives from the international district committees and the Federation's International Department. 

A conference is likewise held each year for the branch members who are active on the international stage. It is a working principle that branches and districts must provide their own financing of their local international activities. It works well in practice. Many districts have a fixed yearly subscription covering the international work. Others are granted money from case to case. This ensures that the accomplished activities are local ones that are given high priority compared to the other trade union work. 

A response to the globalization

In 1997 SiD uses its 100th anniversary as an opportunity for holding a large Global Labour Summit in Copenhagen. Trade union and political representatives from all corners of the earth will be invited to Copenhagen. SiD's local international activists will be involved. The rest of the Danish labour movement will be invited to attend. The aim is to support the development of new visions and strategies for the labour movement in the 21st century in response to the globalization challenges. 

An international working group with representatives from all the continents prepares the summit. 

All contributions are put on the Internet, and an international dialogue is also sought launched this way. 

The Global Labour Summit will take place from 30/5 to 1/6-1997. 

Immigrant and refugee work 

As the immigrant and refugee issue is based on the conditions ruling in other countries, the responsibility for this work is an integral part of SiD's international activities. This also helps to create our attitudes towards those who come to us from the outside. 

SiD has 14,500 members with foreign citizenships. They are harder hit by unemployment than their Danish SiD-colleagues. In the course of the years SiD has carried out a lot of activities that aimed at increasing their trade union involvement. Through the Network in the Trade Union Movement, NiF, we are trying to intensify their participation in the trade union work. A new plan of action for SiD's immigrant and refugee work is now being worked out. 

SiD has been and still is involved in the integration of the Bosnian refugees in the Danish labour market. SiD is a member of the Danish Refugee Council. 

AIF and ASF - Dansk Folkehjælp 

SiD is actively involved in the development of the labour movement's International Forum, AIF, which is regarded as an important organization for strengthening the international work in the entire labour movement. SiD was also very actively involved in AIF's predecessor, AIC. Precisely at a time when the international work in the labour movement in Denmark was limited to a few persons/ organizations and where SiD was the only federation with an international department and whose aim was to democratize and increase the involvement in international issues, it was important to have a joint organization for the persons and organizations in the labour movement who had the same aims. SiD also takes part in cooperation activities with ASF - Dansk Folkehjælp. This cooperation is primarily on the local level and concerns, inter alia, children from Chernobyl and other places in Russia and humanitarian aid. 
 
 

Organization of the international work in SiD 

An international committee with representatives from the Federation's leadership, the four groups (industrial, construction and building, transport, and horticultural, agricultural & forestry) as well as a number of secretariats is represented on the committee which meets every month to discuss international issues in relation to the Working Committee and the Executive Committee, and which tries to coordinate the many activities in the Federation's different branches in the best possible way. Ad hoc working groups are appointed, as required. 

The International Department is in charge of the secretarial duties in connection with the above. SiD's International Department is managed by an international secretary. Three international project secretaries work with SiD-projects abroad. Add to this that three office clerks are attached to the International Department. 

Around the World SiD has at the beginning of 1997 a total of five project managers in Central America/the Caribbean area, Palestine, Albania and Mozambique. 

Coordination with others

SiD considers it very important that the international activities, the Federation is in charge of, are coordinated with all other actors in the Danish and international labour movement. 

The coordination of the international trade union work takes place in Denmark in LO's Europe Committee and LO's working groups for Europe and international affairs as well as in sundry ad hoc groups on, say, global child labour, ex-Jugoslavia, etc. 

With the other federations in the cartels the joint efforts are coordinated in relation to the European, in some cartels also to the international, trade secretariats and in relation to the EU's labour market policy. 

International information activities are coordinated in the AIF. In conjunction with the LO/FTF Council they coordinate the projects which they carry out together with SiD via the international trade secretariats. Endeavours are also made to coordinate this activity and SiD's bilateral project activities. 

In regard to the Nordic, European and international trade secretariats, a close day-to-day cooperation takes place both directly and through SiD's representatives in the mentioned trade secretariats via the International Department. Trade union strategies and projects are coordinated, so that we generally pull together.