Negotiation to Save Finnish Shipyard Completed
The shipyard in Turku, which builds post-Panama class cruise vessels, is one of the biggest and most modern in Europe with a land area of 144 ha and a new building dock measuring 365 x 80 meters. (Photo: STX Finland)
The Rauma yard with a building dock measuring 260 x 85 meters is a leading ferry builder, which also specializes in small cruise ships, multipurpose icebreakers and naval craft. (Photo: STX Finland)
STX Finland has been actively seeking solutions for saving the Finnish shipyard industry. In September 2013, the company launched a major restructuring aimed at safeguarding the operating potential of the company and, by extension, the entire maritime industry in Finland, thus ending the years of uncertainty.
As part of the STX Finland Oy restructuring, cooperation negotiations concerning the Rauma and Turku Shipyards have been conducted between the personnel groups and the company management. The negotiations were completed on October 29, 2013. In accordance with the company’s earlier announcement, the current operations at the Rauma Shipyard will be closed down and functions shifted to the Turku Shipyard. By the end of June 2014, a total of approximately 670 employment relationships will be terminated: 620 at Rauma and 50 at Turku. In addition a total of approximately 80 people will transfer from Rauma to Turku. After workforce reductions, the total number of employees at STX Finland will be 1,655. The Turku Shipyard will have an overall strength of 1,365 employees, of which 870 are blue-collar workers and 495 white-collar workers.
”In collaboration with national and regional employment authorities, the company will be offering concrete support and employment measures for employees who will be laid off as a result of the restructuring,” said Jari Anttila, Deputy CEO of STX Finland.
STX Finland has been exploring employment opportunities in its other units in Finland and discussed the personnel needs of other maritime cluster companies with its local partners. Employment authorities have set up a new branch office in the City of Rauma, providing information about how to apply for unemployment benefits and supporting reemployment by various means. The personnel will be offered information on, for example, job-seeking, retraining, entrepreneurship, pension plan opportunities, and other social services and benefits. The representatives of the employer and personnel groups will continue their close cooperation to increase support measures for the personnel.
Both the Rauma and Turku Shipyards have been underutilized and the company’s financial performance has been negative. The decisions now taken will adapt the company capacity to the expected volume of demand. The Turku Shipyard is able to build all types of vessels, including ships requiring special arctic expertise, such as icebreakers. The restructuring will not limit the company’s offering or reduce the volume of its operations.
“STX Finland is committed to successfully completing the restructuring process required to secure the future of the Finnish shipyard industry,” said Jari Anttila, Deputy CEO of STX Finland.
stxeurope.com
