Aker Finnyards: Negotiations with Employee Reps Concluded

Since the beginning of 2005 Finland's three largest shipyards in Helsinki, Rauma and Turku have been working as one company, the new Aker Finnyards. As a part of the restructuring, negotiations were started on November 9 with the employee representatives to improve the productivity of the yards. The formal negotiations have now been concluded, and the number of employees that will be affected will be approximately 315. "I am very pleased with the result, and that we have come to a joint solution with the employee representatives to develop Aker Finnyards' competitiveness. For winning new orders, improving competitiveness is a prerequisite, and a daily challenge for our yard, personnel and our network of co-operation partners. The dialogue has been constructive, and together we have been able to make a number of creative solutions." says Yrjö Julin, President of Aker Finnyards. Since the negotiations were initiated in November, the anticipated activity level at the yards has increased. As a result of the dialogue with the employees, and the increased activity, the number of employees that will be affected will be approximately 315. Future synergy effect from the combination of the Finnish yards is as previously communicated expected to be in the range of EUR 20 million annually.