Flexibility and employment patterns in the contemporary paper industry.

Penn, Roger and Lilja, Kari and Scattergood, Hilda (1992) Flexibility and employment patterns in the contemporary paper industry. Industrial Relations Journal, 23 (3). pp. 214-223. ISSN 0019-8692

Abstract

This article examines the model of the flexible firm in eight British and Finnish paper mills. In spite of increasing competition and considerable technological change, there was little evidence of flexibility. The authors conclude that peripheralisation of employment would be disastrous in such a capitally-intensive environment where employers rely on highly-skilled, experienced, full-time workers to operate advanced machinery continuously.