STOCKHOLM (From news reports) - Finnish paperboard producer Metsa Board said it expects to temporarily shut down one of its mills later this week due to a two-week political strike affecting Finland's harbours and railroad system.
Industrial, logistics and electrical workers began a two-week strike on Monday, targeting exports, imports and cargo transportation.
The strike is the latest in a series of trade union actions protesting labour market reforms and proposed cuts to the social welfare system by Finland's right-wing government.
A Metsa spokesperson said its mill in Joutseno in southern Finland would need to be temporarily idled as a result of the strike due to raw-material shortages.
The spokesperson did not have an estimate of how the strike would affect Metsa's other mills in Finland.
"Of course the target is to keep the mills operational throughout the strike as much as possible, depending on the length of the strike," the spokesperson said.
Production at the closed mill is expected to ramp up after the strike ends and employees will do maintenance work in the meantime, the spokesperson added.
Metsa does not expect its Swedish mills to be affected by the strike.
Many companies are anticipating an impact from the strike action. Earlier on Monday, Swedish metals maker Boliden said it expected a 300 million-crown ($29.35 million) hit to first-quarter profit, while Finnish forestry firm UPM plans on temporarily closing a paper mill.
|
