Swedish woodworkers' union supports Finnish sawmill workers' strike

The Swedish woodworkers union GS is supporting the Finnish sawmill workers strike.

The union has agreed to block any increased in orders at the Swedish plants of Stora Enso that may be received due to the strike affecting the company’s Finnish plants. Of the companies so far affected only Stora Enso has plants in Sweden.

Other sawmillers currently affected by the strike include UPM, Finnforest, Versowood and Vapo.

The Finnish Wood and Allied Workers’ Union, which called the strike on October 1, says the action will be increased twice during the next two weeks unless there is a breakthrough in negotiations with forest industry.

So far about 33 factories/mills and 4,000 workers are affected by the strike.

The second phase will start on October 8 and will involve an extension to all member companies of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation, before a third phase on October 15 when the rest of the companies in the sector are expected to join in.