Some 4,000 members of trade union Ammattiliitto Pro held strikes against Finnish paper producers before an agreement over a second-year wage renewal was reached on 18 May.

The 2011 national pay award is 1.5% or €48-per-month minimum, whichever is higher, and was effective from 19 May.

The union won the across-the-board national salary increase, structured to narrow the pay gap among the clerical, technical, and front-line managerial ranks of the pulp and paper industry.

The strikes have impacted all Finnish-based companies since early April. Staff at all Stora Enso and Metsäliitto sites went on strike on 26 April, and UPM said the end of its two-week strike had resulted in a cost impact of €1m (£887,000).

By last week, about 75% of white-collar staff in Finland's paper industry were on strike. Shift workers returned to their jobs on 21 May, while day workers returned today.

Ammattiliitto Pro paper industry chief negotiator Jukka Hämäläinen said the solidarity among Pro members was reflected in the fact that the union was united in closing the pay gap between men and women.

He said: "Improved salary equality between men and women was a major accomplishment in the one-year agreement.

Meanwhile, South African-based Sappi was hit with a two-week strike last week.

Claudia Hammerich, manager corporate communications at Sappi Fine Paper Europe, said: "A salary increase has been agreed, and the unions have said that all companies will evaluate and locally develop their salary system for white collars."