Strike threat in the mechanical forest and carpentry industry

Over 10,000 workers involved

(Helsinki 05.02.2003 - Juhani Artto) The Wood and Allied Workers' Union is threatening a strike in the mechanical forest and carpentry industry. Industrial action of 10,500 workers will begin 24 February if the current round of negotiations for a collective agreement fail. When announcing the strike threat the union also declared an overtime ban in the industry with immediate effect.

About 18,000 workers in the mechanical forest industry and 12,000 in the carpentry industry are organised in the Wood and Allied Workers' Union.

Although a large majority of wage and salary earners signed up to a broadly-based incomes policy settlement at the end of last year, the mechanical forest and carpentry industries were among the rare sectors in which the parties were unable to conclude an agreement within the confines of the centrally negotiated settlement.

In its 4 February statement the Wood and Allied Workers' Union blames the employers for trying to force the union to approve an agreement falling below the standard set in the general incomes policy agreement.

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