Oct 25, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. The Finnish Forest Industries Federation and the Forestry Experts’ Association METO have accepted the National Conciliator’s proposed settlement for a new collective labour agreement, thereby averting the strike that had threatened the industry. The new agreement is in force until 30 September 2009. Modernisation of the collective labour agreement and the remuneration system of forestry experts will support companies' efforts to increase the efficiency of domestic wood procurement. Salaries will be raised universally by 4.0% from the beginning of October 2007, in addition to which individual companies may raise salaries by a further 1%. A universal raise of 2.5% will take effect in the beginning of October 2008. In autumn in 2009 the partial reform of the remuneration system will be realised. The collective labour agreement applies some 1 600 forestry experts, who work in wood procurement and harvesting. Their employment situation is very good because the industry targets to increased share of domestic timber in its raw material use.