Steelworkers vote on lockout

Workers at Mana Steel are voting on a contract today to avoid a potential lockout.

The agreement would see the steel workers take pay cuts of up to $10 an hour. For some, that would be a 30 percent reduction.

The company says without the concessions they can’t compete in the industry. But union leaders such as Tim Blackborow with USW local 1005 say they can’t get behind the deal.

“We cannot turn around and recommend this final offer that mana has proposed because basically it’s a step back 40 years for the labour movement.”

Workers will be voting until 7 o’clock tonight. If the agreement doesn’t pass, they’ll be locked out by the end of the month.