UPM Announces Preparations for Temporary Production Cuts in Finland

UPM announced on Wednesday (11-22-23) that it was preparing to start change negotiations on possible temporary layoffs at its UPM Pulp, UPM Timber, UPM Communication Papers, and UPM Biofuels businesses in Finland. According to the press release, the negotiations are being conducted to prepare for possible temporary adjustments of production in the Finnish units should the uncertainty in the operating environment continue.

UPM explained that the change negotiations on possible temporary layoffs concern all UPM pulp mills, sawmills, and graphic paper mills in Finland, as well as the Lappeenranta biorefinery. The negotiations cover approximately 780 employees at UPM Pulp’s Finnish operations, approximately 235 employees at UPM Timber sawmills, approximately 1,100 employees at UPM Communication Papers’ Finnish mills, and approximately 90 employees at the UPM Biofuels Lappeenranta biorefinery.

The possible temporary layoffs could take place from January 1st until June 30th, 2024, at UPM Pulp, UPM Timber, and UPM Biofuels and from March 1st until August 31st, 2024, at UPM Communication Papers. Any temporary layoffs could be implemented in stages and would last a maximum of 90 days in total. Decisions on possible temporary layoffs will be made after the change negotiations have been concluded.

Earlier this year, UPM also conducted change negotiations concerning temporary layoffs at UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Plywood, UPM Raflatac, UPM Biocomposites, and UPM Raumacell.