The negotiations started in February in order to improving the mills' competitiveness through new ways of operating, such as increasing co-operation between departments as well as the use of common resources between mills.

The reductions will mainly take place in 2010 and will affect 147 shop-floor employees along with 33 salaried staff.

UPM announced in March that it planned to lay off 200 staff in order to further cut costs and improve competitiveness.

It said the continued measures are to improve competitiveness "through more flexible and cost-efficient ways to operate".

At the time, a spokesman for UPM said that the changes in Finland would not have an impact on imports into the UK. 

The announcement follows a series of large production curtailments made by the company, which has faced increased market pressures from weak demand and overcapacity.