The latest news of the current supply chain issues, as at 22nd March 2022. We at last read some positive news about the Finnish paper mill strike -

Conciliator Leo Suomaa has submitted a proposal for a settlement in the collective labour agreement negotiations between UPM Pulp and the Paperworkers’ Union. The conciliator has asked the parties to state their position on the proposal by 14 April 2022 at 10:00 EET.

In the meanwhile, the conciliator will continue the conciliation with the Union and with UPM’s other businesses. Paperworkers’ Union has now also agreed that all business can run the negotiations parallel instead of having them one by one.

"I am pleased that the negotiations have reached a point where the conciliator has seen it possible to submit a proposal for a settlement. I am hopeful that the agreement will be reached, and I hope we get to start the mills as soon as possible."

Read more here -  https://www.upm.com/about-us/for-media/releases/2022/03/settlement-proposal-in-the-collective-labour-agreement-negotiations-for-upm-pulp/

While this is welcome news, even if a resolution is found and agreements reached, the timescales will not see a quick fix to our issues, and it is expected that we will continue to see delays for much of the rest of 2022. 

Most suppliers, paper, ink, boxes, cores, energy and transport are all increasing further their prices in April, and so we will again need to factor these increases into our costings. The situation in Ukraine is causing much volatility, so while some light at the end of a long tunnel in regards to the strike, there is still much for us to battle with.

We will update again once we hear of any further news.