UPM Plywood and the Industrial Union have reached an agreement on a new collective labour agreement, ending a strike that had halted production at the company's plywood mills for over three months.
Work will resume immediately at the affected sites, UPM confirmed in a statement on Friday.
"We are pleased that a solution was found and we can restart operations at our mills," said Juhani Tenhunen, UPM Plywood's Director of Production.
"We ultimately reached a result that ensures our employees' purchasing power and supports the long-term success of UPM Plywood's mills."
Tenhunen declined to comment on the financial impact of the strike and shutdowns, stating that the most significant effects were on the company's customers and delivery reliability.
The new company-specific collective agreement takes effect immediately and will remain in force until the end of 2027.
Surprise resolution
Jonna Pöysti, chief shop steward at the Pellos mill in Ristiina, Mikkeli, said the agreement came unexpectedly.
"This really came as a surprise. When we met with the National Conciliator on Monday, there was no indication of the next steps," Pöysti said.
Despite the agreement, change negotiations remain ongoing at UPM Plywood's mills in Pellos, Savonlinna and Joensuu. According to the employer, up to 42 roles could be cut at Pellos. In Savonlinna and Joensuu, the company is preparing for temporary layoffs of all staff groups for up to 90 days.
"Weight lifted"
Henri Paukkunen, chief shop steward at the Kalso veneer mill in Kouvola, expressed relief at the breakthrough. The strike at Kalso had lasted ten consecutive weeks.
"It feels like a weight off my shoulders — or a lump out of my throat. The past couple of months have been very difficult," he said.
Paukkunen said the compromise reached was acceptable, noting that without the strikes, such favourable terms would not have been achieved.
"We could have discussed these same issues much earlier," he added, criticising UPM for not advancing talks sooner. Wage negotiations had been ongoing since the autumn.
The company has already offered overtime shifts starting Saturday, but Paukkunen believes most employees will return on Monday. The first shift is set to begin at 6am.
