A strike was recently called at Korsnäs' paper and cartonboard mill in Gävle. The Swedish Paper Workers Union yesterday broadened the scope of its announced strike action, which also includes Korsnäs' other cartonboard mill in Frövi. The union is now threatening to call a strike at the Frövi mill effective from 26 April. This makes Korsnäs the only group in Sweden to have its entire cartonboard production affected. The consequences will be considerable.
"With the strike now a fact, the Swedish Paper Workers Union is inflicting long-term harm to customer confidence in Korsnäs and the Swedish forest products industry. It threatens the future of the industry, its competitiveness and the jobs of many. These consequences are far more serious than the money lost in the short term," says Christer Simrén, CEO of Korsnäs.
Throughout, the member companies of the Swedish Forest Industries Federation have negotiated with the Swedish Paper Workers Union, but despite the Federation having proposed far-reaching concessions, we see no willingness to negotiate from the other side. The union has persisted with its initial bid, with requirements including wage raises that would be twice as high as in other industrial sectors.
Subjecting all of Korsnäs' production to a strike and the threat of strike also means shutting down large parts of Europe’s production of cartonboard for milk packages, which threatens to cause tangible effects for society within a short space of time.
"With yesterday's announcement, the Swedish Paper Workers Union has singled out the entire Korsnäs Group in the conflict. This seems very strange and it is very difficult to comprehend the grounds on which they are attacking an individual company in this way."
"Everyone knows that the real battle over future jobs and conditions isn't being fought in Sweden but out in the global market in competition with high-tech mills in Asia and on the American continents. Don't they want there to be a pulp and paper industry in Sweden?" says Christer Simrén.
