Mar 03, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. Statutory labour negotiations concerning the merger of Finnforest with Metsaliitto Cooperative conducted at Metsaliitto Cooperative and Finnforest Corporation have concluded. The negotiations concerned the business support personnel of both companies in Finland. As a result of the negotiations, the present number of jobs will be reduced by twenty-eight. The majority of personnel cutbacks will be carried out through retirement arrangements and reassignments. The arrangements will also create five new jobs in financial administration. The statutory labour negotiations were initiated on 18 January 2006 and concluded on 1 March 2006. Finnforest is Europe’s biggest wood products industry corporation, with a turnover of Euro 2 billion. As part of the Metsдliitto Group's core business, Finnforest operates in over 20 countries and employs 8 000 people.