FINNISH WORKERS ST|RIKE

Finnish paper workers start three-day strike
Wednesday 04 May 2011
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A thousand members of trade union Pro launched a new three-day strike at paper giant UPM-Kymmene today.
The move is aimed at pressing Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF) bosses to resume stalled negotiations.
State conciliator Esa Lonka was unable to shape a compromise proposal last week, the third consecutive week that the FFIF failed to resolve the downward-spiralling labour dispute with Pro.
The dispute rests on claims that the FFIF does not recognise unfair job demands on 4,000 clerical, technical and front-line supervisory personnel.
According to the union, redundancies and speed-ups over the past several years in the Finnish pulp and paper sector have resulted in its members being asked to work without adequate compensation, or without recognition of higher job competencies.
Separate strikes that 1,500 Pro members began on April 26 are continuing at other Finnish paper firms including Stora Enso and Metsä Tissue.

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