Finnish Wood and Special Industries‘ Union celebrates 110 years

On May 14th this BWI affiliate, representing 43,000 members, held a special seminar to mark its 110-year anniversary, in the lead up to its congress in Lahti, Finland. Speakers at the event included BWI General Secretary Anita Normark as well as representatives from the industry and researchers. One of the themes was “building with wood, and wood as a source of energy”.

The congress, taking place during the following two days, decided that the union would prepare for a merger with other industrial unions in Finland to form a new union, TEAM, which is scheduled to be established in early 2011. Delegates elected a new President, Sakari Lepola, formerly the union’s leader for collective bargaining negotiations in the wood sector. The congress was also addressed by Lauri Lyly, the newly-elected president of the Finnish trade union confederation, SAK.