New settlement proposal in the Finnish pulp and paper industry

In a fresh bid to end the dispute over terms of employment in the pulp and paper industry, Finland's National Conciliator Juhani Salonius offered a new settlement proposal on Tuesday afternoon. Salonius expects to receive responses to the proposal from the parties to the dispute by 15.00 on Thursday 23 June. If the Finnish Paperworkers' Union and the Finnish Forest Industries Federation approve the settlement, then the lockout imposed by the employers at Finland's pulp and paper mills five weeks ago will end and the industry's employees will return to work at the beginning of next week.

Lauri Ihalainen, President of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions &#;8211 SAK, has been vigorously involved in the conciliation process over the last few days. Ihalainen supports the proposal made by Salonius, and is anxious to avoid further prolongation of the dispute. He feels that the new settlement proposal offers a balanced and effective solution that will provide contractual security for the workforce – including compensation for the Christmas and Midsummer shutdowns and new conditions governing the use of outside labour.

See also

Employers extend paper industry lockout in Finland (15.6.2005)