The lockouts at Finnish paper mills have now been extended until early July, with talks set to resume next week, while European stocks continue to diminish.

Meanwhile members of seven unions, comprising the United Steelworkers Union (USW), the Teamsters, the electrical workers, the machinists, the office employees, the plumbers and pipefitters and the Communication Energy and Paperworkers union in Canada, expressed their support for their Finnish colleagues.

USW director Richard LaCosse said members wore stickers inside plants owned by Stora Enso and UPM, and further action is planned. Union members also handed out handbills explaining the situation in Finland.

"We believe that only by sticking together all over the world can we maintain fairness for workers in our industry," said LaCosse adding that he felt the Finnish employers had taken a leaf right out of the worst US companies' playbook.

Union members have been letting employers in the US and Canada know their concerns over the situation in Finland for some weeks, following dialogue between the US unions and their Finnish counterparts.

"We believe this is a must-win, and we are working together to see the union does win," said LaCosse. He felt that if the companies were allowed to get away with the situation in Finland, then no union in the world was safe.

In Finland the employers representatives and the Union of Salaried Employees, representing some 5,500 supervisors and office employees at mills have reached agreement on new working conditions. Salaries for the white collar staff will increase by 6% over the next three years, with working time shortened by 11 hours for working during Christmas and midsummer.

Story by Andy Scott