Read the final statement issued by the Finnish NCP – 29 March 2017
On 16 June 2016, the trade unions Association Génération Ferdinand Béghin and Syndicat CGT Arjowiggins Wizernes submitted a specific instance via their lawyer, to the Finnish NCP regarding Stora Enso’s closure process of the Corbehem paper mill in France.
More specifically, the trade unions, which represent workers of the Corbehem paper mill, alleged that Stora Enso did not observe the Guidelines by refusing to consider the unions’ proposal regarding the takeover of the paper mill.
On 30 June 2016, the NCP offered its conciliation services.
The NCP considered the submission in its meeting held on 8 November 2016 and assessed the complaint against the procedural guidance of the OECD Guidelines. The NCP considered the submission substantiated and decided to accept the specific instance for further examination. In a reply submitted to the NCP on 15 September 2016, Stora Enso refused the NCP’s offer of conciliation services. The company explained that the closure of the paper mill was due to a decline in demand for the type of paper produced by the mill. The company clarified that it had notified the local authorities in March 2016, in accordance with French law and that it had only received the trade unions’ proposal with few details by 2016.
The submitters did not reply to these explanations.
Because Stora Enso had notified the workers and the authorities about the future changes in the manner required by French legislation in advance and that a significant social plan to mitigate the adverse effects of the closure of the paper mill has been approved together with the workers, the French authorities, and Stora Enso, the NCP considers that Stora Enso adequately cooperated with the workers and the authorities.
As Stora Enso refused to meet with the submitters and turned down an opportunity for conciliation offered by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the NCP is unable to implement the meeting requested by the submitters to present a business plan to Stora Enso. As the submitters have not responded to Stora Enso’s reply, the NCP does not consider it appropriate to continue with the case. The final statement closing the specific instance was issued on 29 March 2017.