Strike at UPM Plywood mills continues as negotiation foils

The ongoing strike at forestry giant United Paper Mills (UPM) Plywood in Finland will continue as the UPM and the Industrial Union (Teollisuusliitto) failed to reach an agreement on a new employer-specific collective agreement, said UPM and Industrial Union.

Conciliator Jukka Ahtela made a new settlement proposal in the labor agreement dispute between UPM Plywood and the Industrial Union on Monday. UPM Plywood accepted the proposal, but the union has rejected it on Tuesday, said UPM in a press release.

The settlement process will continue as soon as the National Conciliator considers it appropriate.

The Industrial Union on 30 March called the new strike at UPM Plywood’s four units in Finland. The strike is the seventh one during this round of negotiations.

The strike covers all shifts started on Monday at 00:00 and will continue until April 20 at 23:59.

"We are very disappointed that the conciliator's new settlement proposal did not lead to a solution. Almost eight weeks of strikes on our mills are causing significant damage to our customers and have a long-term impact on our business and unfortunately also on the livelihood of employees participating the strikes," said Juhani Tenhunen, Vice President, Operations at UPM Plywood.

The strikes have halted production at UPM Plywood mills in Finland. UPM Plywood mills in Finland employ 1,000 people covered by the collective agreement with the Industrial Union.

Production at UPM Plywood's Otepää mill in Estonia continues as normal.

The Industrial Union has been observing strike in different phases to press home various demands including pay hike and contract solutions for the technology and chemical industry workers.