Finnish paper industry strikes to be expanded

Finnish trade union Pro has expanded paper industry strikes to Stora Enso and Metsäliitto.

A first wave of strikes affecting UPM’s salaried employees in the paper division came to an end on April 20 without a resolution on Pro’s wage demands. Strike action at Metsäliitto and Stora Enso started on April 26 and will also last for two weeks.

“Trade union Pro’s threat to broaden the scope of its strike is incomprehensible,” said Jari Forss, deputy director general of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation.

“Why is Pro threatening to shut down the activities of the Finnish forest industry and endangering the jobs of its members who work in the industry’s support functions?

“The strike’s expansion will inevitably lead to a re-evaluation of which countries support functions are located in.”

Pro declared an overtime ban for salaried paper industry employees that took effect on April 1.