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4 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 33/2000
The nationwide strike in Finland's paper industry is likely to end tomorrow afternoon, following union and employer acceptance of a mediated settlement that meets the union's main demands.
Paper is one of Finland's main export industries, and the strike could have caused major disruption both to Finnish trade and to newspaper, magazine and book production in various countries. The industrial action began on 11 April, following the employers' rejection of a previous mediation bid.
The Executive Committee of the paperworkers' union Paperiliitto accepted the new settlement proposal this afternoon, as did the employers. The proposal now goes to Paperiliitto's National Council for approval. The National Council is likely to end the strike tomorrow, with effect from 2.00 pm local time.
The settlement provides for:
- tighter regulation of outsourcing in the paper industry
- better national-level provisions against compulsory redundancies
- a start on regulating the bonus system, which was previously more or less at the employer's discretion
- one extra day's holiday per year for workers on daily and weekly shift rosters
- an across-the-board pay rise totalling 4 percent this year
- improved workplace equality provisions.
The agreement runs for three years, but the pay provisions are for one year. The union therefore has the right to lodge further pay claims in 2001 and 2002, and to strike in support of them if necessary.
"Today's proposal is a satisfactory outcome which significantly improves the pay and conditions of Finnish paperworkers," commented Paperiliitto's President Jarmo Lähteenmäki this afternoon.
An important role in the settlement had, he said, been played by international solidarity coordinated through the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), to which Paperiliitto is affiliated.
"We received messages of support and offers of practical help from paperworkers' unions worldwide," Lähteenmäki pointed out. "This support drew considerable attention in the Finnish media - notably our sister unions' readiness to black any attempted production transfers to Sweden or other countries. We thank the ICEM and paperworkers everywhere for this effective solidarity."
Paper is one of Finland's main export industries, and the strike could have caused major disruption both to Finnish trade and to newspaper, magazine and book production in various countries. The industrial action began on 11 April, following the employers' rejection of a previous mediation bid.
The Executive Committee of the paperworkers' union Paperiliitto accepted the new settlement proposal this afternoon, as did the employers. The proposal now goes to Paperiliitto's National Council for approval. The National Council is likely to end the strike tomorrow, with effect from 2.00 pm local time.
The settlement provides for:
- tighter regulation of outsourcing in the paper industry
- better national-level provisions against compulsory redundancies
- a start on regulating the bonus system, which was previously more or less at the employer's discretion
- one extra day's holiday per year for workers on daily and weekly shift rosters
- an across-the-board pay rise totalling 4 percent this year
- improved workplace equality provisions.
The agreement runs for three years, but the pay provisions are for one year. The union therefore has the right to lodge further pay claims in 2001 and 2002, and to strike in support of them if necessary.
"Today's proposal is a satisfactory outcome which significantly improves the pay and conditions of Finnish paperworkers," commented Paperiliitto's President Jarmo Lähteenmäki this afternoon.
An important role in the settlement had, he said, been played by international solidarity coordinated through the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), to which Paperiliitto is affiliated.
"We received messages of support and offers of practical help from paperworkers' unions worldwide," Lähteenmäki pointed out. "This support drew considerable attention in the Finnish media - notably our sister unions' readiness to black any attempted production transfers to Sweden or other countries. We thank the ICEM and paperworkers everywhere for this effective solidarity."