December 02, 2008

Outokumpu Tornio Works served notice for strike - Report

Asia Business News reported that in the process of collective bargaining between the Union of Salaried Employees and the employer association Technology Industries, Union of Salaried Employees gave notice on industrial action targeted at seven Finnish metals industry companies, including Outokumpu's Tornio Works.

During the evening of October 16th 2007, the National Conciliator Juhani Salonius informed that he has no grounds to make a proposal for a settlement. Therefore, as new negotiations have not been set, the industrial action is likely to start on October 22nd 2007.

Should the industrial action start it would mean an almost immediate cessation of production of stainless steel at Outokumpu's Tornio Works. Some 400 salaried employees in Tornio would be involved, mainly at the stainless steel mill. However, he Kemi chromite mine and the Tornio ferrochrome smelter will not be affected.