The action will target Finnish-owned UK mills, merchants and recycling plants.

"In reality I would see it being mills that we will concentrate on," said Amicus papermaking officer Owen Coop.

Amicus GPMS assistant general secretary Tony Burke said the latest move followed regular contact with Finnish counterparts and the European Mine, Chemical and Energy Workers Federation (EMCEF).

Burke said EMCEF was investigating whether the real purpose of the lockout was a move to raise paper prices in Europe.

"We are reciprocating in our support for our Finnish colleagues. It's good old fashioned solidarity," he said.

As yet consultation with representatives at the Finnish-owned mills, of which there are four in the UK have yet to get underway.

But Burke said it would only be a short matter of time and logistics to pull everyone together.

UPM has two mills in the UK at Caledonian in Scotland, which produces coated magazine papers and recycled newsprint producer Shotton in Flintshire. M-real has two mills in Kent, New Thames, which produces office paper and coated and uncoated paper mill Sittingbourne.

The announcement follows demonstrations in support of Finnish workers by employees at Finnish-owned mills in both the US and Canada.

Finnish paper mill lockouts are now into their seventh week, with no sign of a deal.

Story by Andy Scott