Syndicalism and Strikes in Denmark, 1917–1920: The Syndicalist Challenge to Social Democratic Trade Union Leadership

Abstract

This chapter examines the role of syndicalism in the strikes in Denmark 1917-20 and the syndicalist challenge to the social democratic leadership of the trade unions. The strikes 1917-20 were exceptional in the history of Danish trade unionism as the well-organized and disciplined normality of the unions was substituted by a wave of sudden work stoppages at the workshops, a mixture of legal and illegal strikes. The wildcat strikes culminated in 1919-20, as did the confrontation between the syndicalist trade union opposition and the social democratic leadership. It is argued that the strikes reflected the extra-ordinary circumstances of the war and the failure of the social democratic movement to prevent the deterioration of the conditions of the working-class, declining wages and unemployment, and that the syndicalists played a radicalizing role in the strikes. Further, it is concluded that the sudden decline of syndicalism 1920-21 were caused by the intensified social democratic counter-offensive 1919-20, the defeat of the seamen and dockworkers’ strike in 1920, and internal divisions within the syndicalist opposition.