LAHTI, FINLAND -- UPM Plywood is starting co-operative negotiations with employees on restructuring of its headquarter plywood operations, sales and mill maintenance operations in Finland.

UPM Plywood employs about 2,600 people and operates six plywood mills and a veneer mill in Finland, as well as plywood mills in Russia and Estonia.

The company announced that its planned restructuring will improve efficiency and reduce UPM Plywood personnel by up to 75 workers in plywood and up to an additional 50 workers in maintenance.

”The corner stones of our strategy are first-class customer service,operational excellence and continuous renewal," said Kim Poulsen, senior vice president of UPM Plywood. "However, we also have to improve our cost competitiveness continuously.”