Tradespeople block National Bank site over pay dispute

A group of tradespeople blocked access to the National Bank building’s renovation site in Copenhagen on Wednesday, as 3F protested the employment of foreign workers without a collective agreement, DR reported. Copenhagen Police were present, according to a post on the force’s Police Update account.

3F’s Construction, Earth and Environmental Workers’ Union said the dispute concerns Gruppen ApS, which it says has refused to sign a collective agreement. The company was hired to carry out demolition work under Søndergaard A/S.

According to 3F, the workers are from Cameroon and are paid below the agreement’s minimum rates. The union said the conflict had been legally notified and applied to all construction sites where the company is working, including the National Bank project.

Bricklayer Peter Christensen, who attended the demonstration, said foreign workers in the construction industry are often paid less and have less secure working conditions than other workers.

DR said it was seeking comment from the company and the developer.