The 862 workers present at the meeting voted 97 per cent against wage and benefit concessions to keep their jobs at the money-losing Vallee-Jonction plant. The plant employs 1,100 people. The workers did adopt a proposal to continue negotiations to try to avert the shutdown planned for July.

"It is a proposal to return to the table for real negotiations," said Gino Provencher, the president of the local union. "People want to work, but not under any conditions."

Union official Jean Lortie said the concessions would have cost each worker $12,000 yearly and he wants Olymel to agree to keep talking about the plant's future.

Lortie said the workers have been labouring in a climate of threats and ultimatums for several weeks.

Source: canada.com