Finnish Forest Industries Federation Says Strike at Sawmills and Plywood Factories Now Highly Probable

The Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF) is reporting a lack of progress in talks with the Industrial Union, which represents sawmill and plywood factory workers. The FFIF is also in negotiations and reporting little progress in talks with the Finnish Paper Workers’ Union, which represents the paper, paperboard and pulp industry employees. The Industrial Union is trying to ‘harmonize’ a package solution for all export industries. If all the strikes declared by the Finnish Paper Workers’ Union, the Industrial Union and the Trade Union Pro scheduled to start after a week were to happen, the losses could be high. The entire forest industry would be paralyzed for two weeks, since the strikes are targeted at 110 factories and companies. Production losses for the entire forest industry could amount to nearly Euro 1 billion during the 14-day strike.