Ahlstrom's personnel negotiations concluded in Karhula and Tampere

Ahlstrom Corporation PRESS RELEASE 25.2.2009
 
Ahlstrom has concluded the personnel negotiations started in January at its plants in Karhula and Tampere, Finland. As a result of the negotiations, the company has decided on temporary layoffs at both plants. Additionally in Karhula, the company has decided to permanently lay off approximately 10 persons and outsource the cleaning services. The adjustments of the operations are resulting from the weakening demand on the market.
 
At the Karhula plant, Ahlstrom has decided to temporarily lay offs its personnel, outsource the cleaning services and permanently lay off approximately 10 persons on financial and production-related grounds. The temporary layoffs will be carried out between March and August 2009, and they concern approximately 150 blue collar employees and mainly all of the white collar employees of the plant.
 
The temporary layoffs at Ahlstrom's Tampere plant will be carried out between March and June 2009. The temporary layoffs concern all of the blue collar employees and mainly all of the white collar employees of the plant.
 
These adjustments do not affect the delivery and service level of the plants.
 
Ahlstrom's plant in Karhula is part of the company's Glass & Industrial Nonwovens business area and employs approximately 400 people, of which roughly 300 are blue collar and roughly 100 are white collar employees. Ahlstrom's plant in Tampere is part of the company's Filtration business area and employs approximately 60 people, of which roughly 40 are blue collar and roughly 20 are white collar employees.
 
Further information:
Pekka Helynranta, Managing Director, Ahlstrom's Karhula plant
Tel. +358 (0)10 888 2606
 
Raimo Piittala, Managing Director, Ahlstrom Tampere Oy
Tel. +358 (0)3 246 3111
 
Distribution:
Main media
www.ahlstrom.com
 
Ahlstrom in brief
Ahlstrom is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of high performance fiber-based materials. Nonwovens and specialty papers, made by Ahlstrom, are used in a large variety of everyday products, such as filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. Based upon its unique fiber expertise and innovative approach, the company has a strong market position in several business areas in which it operates. Ahlstrom's 6,400 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2008, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.8 billion. Ahlstrom's share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. The company website is www.ahlstrom.com.