Homeworkers' Union

The Homeworkers' Union ({{langx|da|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.{{cite web |title=Københavns Tjenestepigeforening stiftes |url=https://www.foa.dk/forbund/om-foa/foas-historie/1890erne/koebenhavns-tjenestepigeforening-stiftes |website=FOA |accessdate=2 March 2020}} 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.{{cite web |title=De samvirkende danske tjenestepigeforeninger stiftes |url=https://www.foa.dk/forbund/om-foa/foas-historie/1900erne/de-samvirkende-danske-tjenestepigeforeninger |website=FOA |accessdate=2 March 2020}} In 1915, it became the Home Assistants' Trade Union.{{cite web |title=De Samvirkende danske Tjenestepigeforeninger ændrer navn |url=https://www.foa.dk/forbund/om-foa/foas-historie/1910erne/de-samvirkende-danske-tjenestepigeforenyt-navn |website=FOA |accessdate=2 March 2020}}

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.{{cite web |title=Første mandlige medlemmer optages i HF |url=https://www.foa.dk/forbund/om-foa/foas-historie/1930erne/foerste-mandlige-medlemmer-optages-i-hf |website=FOA |accessdate=2 March 2020}} In 1946, the union changed its name again, becoming the "Homeworkers' Union".{{cite web |title=Husassistenternes Forbund ændrer navn |url=https://www.foa.dk/forbund/om-foa/foas-historie/1940erne/husassistenternes-forbund-aendrer-navn |website=FOA |accessdate=2 March 2020}}

By 1991, the union had 73,964 members, of whom 98.8% were women.{{cite book |last1=Ebbinghaus |first1=Bernhard |last2=Visser |first2=Jelle |title=Trade Unions in Western Europe Since 1945 |date=2000 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=Basingstoke |isbn=0333771125 |page=178}} 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).{{cite web |title=DKA og HAF sammenlægges |url=https://www.foa.dk/forbund/om-foa/foas-historie/1990erne/dka-og-haf-sammenlaegges |website=FOA |accessdate=10 February 2020}}