AKT extends support to ongoing Paperworkers’ strike at UPM mills

The Transport Workers’ Union (Auto- ja Kuljetusalan Työntekijäliitto-AKT) on Saturday announced a blockade against the forest-based industry company UPM to support the ongoing strikes of the Paperworkers’ Union and the Finnish Electrical Workers´ Union.

AKT’s support measures will be carried out as a blockade in Finnish ports. During the blockade, the stevedores will not handle UPM’s paper and pulp. The blockade will begin on Monday morning, said the UPM in a press release.

“AKT’s actions do not advance functioning labour markets. AKT is not even a party in the negotiations, which we aim to start with the Paperworkers’ Union,” said Jyrki Hollmén, Vice President, Labour Markets, UPM.

"We hope to get into negotiations with the Paperworkers’ Union soon, so that both parties can present their goals and seek solutions acceptable to all. Members of the Paperworkers’ Union certainly have the right to strike but now it only postpones the start of negotiations. The AKT blockade doesn’t make the situation any better," Hollmén added.

Earlier, on Friday the Helsinki District Court issued a ruling that the heat production and water treatment units at all the plants of the forest-based industry company UPM must be kept outside of the ongoing strike enforced by the Finnish Paperworkers’ Union.

The court issued the order after hearing from both the parties following an plea submitted by the UPM authority.

According to the court ruling, the Paperworkers' Union must stop all strike action at all the plants of UPM that endangers the emergency functioning of society, or risk being fined two million euros.

The court verdict is applicable to power and water treatment plants of UPM's and its subsidiaries in Jämsänkoski, Lappeenranta, Kouvola, Rauma and Valkeakoski and also at the water treatment plant in Pietarsaari.

The Finnish Paperworkers’ Union on 20 January decided to further extend the going strike of at the mills of UPM by two more weeks until 19 February.

The union started the strike at UPM Pulp, UPM Biofuels, UPM Communication Papers, UPM Specialty Papers and UPM Raflatac units in Finland on 1 January and initially it was scheduled to be continued until 22 January.

Earlier, on 5 January the union extended the strike until 5 February.

The strike, however, does not concern UPM Plywood and UPM Timber, both of which signed business specific collective agreements with the Industrial Union in December.