Swedish Pappers Union Gets Pay Accord in Pulp and Paper

After intense bargaining going back to December, affiliate Papersindustriarbetareförbundet reached a labour accords 18 March with social partners. The wage hikes negotiated in pulp and paper are expected to be the benchmark for Swedish workers in all sectors, and fall within the functioning pay determination system of Swedish inflation. As negotiated by the union, pulp and paper sector workers will receive increases of 2.5% in 2004, 2.1% in 2005 and 2.1% in 2006. Achievements were also made to narrow the gender pay gap.