FOA (trade union)

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FOA is a Danish trade union for public sector workers. It was founded in December 1992 when the Danish Municipal Workers’ Union and the Homeworkers’ Union merged to form the Union of Public Employees (FOA). The aim was to reduce competition for members between unions after changes in health and social care.

FOA started with four sectors: social and health care, cooking and cleaning, technology and service, and education. It joined the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and later, in 2019, became part of FH, LO’s successor. In January 2005, the Danish Union of Educators merged into FOA.

The union is based in Copenhagen. In 2018, FOA had 153,985 members, most working for local or regional governments in jobs such as nursing, firefighting, cooking, cleaning, building maintenance, and bus driving; some members work in similar roles in the private sector. The President is Mona Striib. FOA’s website is foa.dk.