Statutory labour negotiations concerning sawmills have been concluded

Metsäliitto Cooperative Wood Product Industry, Press release 15.12.2010

In the statutory labour negotiations that ended on 14 December 2010, Metsäliitto has decided to continue the production curtailment measures if required at all its operational sawmills. The production of single sawmills may be limited through temporary layoffs for some weeks by the end of September 2011.

"We shall actively follow the developments in the end product markets and the business environment and evaluate the need for temporary layoffs jointly with personnel representatives," says Timo Karinen, Senior Vice President, responsible for Solid Wood of Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry.

The negotiations covered a total of about 450 employees at six sawmills. If required, layoffs with a maximum duration of 90 days will be implemented by the end of September 2011.

Metsäliitto has sawmills in Kannus, Lappeenranta, Merikarvia, Pöytyä, Renko and Vilppula and in Reopalu, Estonia. Operations at the Karihaara sawmill in Kemi have previously been suspended until further notice. Their combined capacity is about 1.8 million cubic metres of spruce and pine sawn timber.

Further information:

Senior Vice President Timo Karinen, Solid Wood, Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry, Finnforest, tel. +358 10 465 4173
Olga van Iterson, Communication Manager, Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry, Finnforest,tel. +358 10 465 4684