The Finnish Industrial Union (Teollisuusliitto) has filed a request with the police to investigate UPM Plywood – The Union suspects that the forestry company has violated the right to organize and engaged in work discrimination

The Finnish Industrial Union has filed a request with the police to investigate the activities of UPM Plywood Oy. The request for investigation concerns suspicions of work discrimination and of violations of the right to organize (Chapter 47, Section 3 and Chapter 47, section 5 of the Criminal Code, Rikoslaki).

The Finnish Industrial Union’s strikes at UPM Plywood have already been ongoing for two months. According to information received from the union’s members, UPM Plywood has pressured its employees to abandon the strike through threats and other inappropriate measures. The Finnish Industrial Union considers the pressure tactics employed by the forestry company to meet the aforementioned criteria for criminal liability under the Criminal Code.

“UPM has launched a systematic pressure campaign targeting its own employees. The pressure tactics aim to scare striking workers into returning to work by threatening them with dismissal and other sanctions,” says Katariina Stoor, Director of the Wood Product Sector at the Finnish Industrial Union.

Among other things, representatives of UPM Plywood’s management have threatened striking Finnish Industrial Union members and negotiators with factory closures if the industrial action is not called off.

“The use of such threats during industrial action is extremely serious. It indicates a deliberate attempt to restrict workers’ right to organize, which is a right that is protected by The Constitution of Finland,” says Stoor.

On 3 April 2025, the employer announced that it would initiate change negotiations regarding layoffs at its Joensuu and Savonlinna factories, and redundancies for workers at its Pellos factories. On the same day, information sessions were held for employees, where attempts were made to entice them back to work with financial promises.

After the information sessions, the employer personally called the employees and tried to persuade them to return to work. In some cases, employees were told that their names would be written down when they reported that they would not be coming to work.  A large proportion of employees found the calls pressuring.

“Calls organized centrally by the employer that take place on the same day that possible lay-offs and redundancies are announced overstep  the boundaries of acceptable employer behaviour. This is a blatant example of pressuring employees,” says Katariina Stoor.

The Finnish Industrial Union also notes that the change negotiations were announced exceptionally early before they began. Co-determination negotiations are normally announced at least five days before they begin. In this case, the negotiations were announced almost a month before they began, which the union feels was a deliberate move to put pressure on employees during the strike.

“According to our assessment, the employer calculated that the threat of employees losing their jobs and the extra financial incentives would cause them to return to work in large numbers,” explains Stoor.

“UPM’s message seems to be: Return to work, or you may not have a job to return to,” she adds.

During the strike, the employer has also repeatedly attempted to have workers who perform essential work (to prevent harm to life, health, work machinery or equipment and the environment during industrial action) perform work that is included in the strike. Refusals have been met with inappropriate behaviour and pressure.

The Finnish Industrial Union emphasizes that the right to organize and the right to strike are protected rights that must not be violated with pressure or threats.

“Employees have the right to fight for fair working conditions without fear of dismissal, threats, or other forms of pressure. This is non-negotiable. We therefore request that the police investigate the actions of the forestry company and its representatives,” Stoor concludes.

Additional information:

Katariina Stoor
Sector Director, Wood Product Sector
The Finnish Industrial Union (Teollisuusliitto ry)
+358 40 922 6689