FPI workers voting on wage-cutting offer

Fishery Products International plant workers are set to finish voting on Tuesday night on a concessionary tentative deal its union hammered out this weekend.

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers union is recommending acceptance of the tentative offer, which involves about 1,700 workers at facilities in seven communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.

CBC News has learned the tentative pactreached just a day before workers were poised to strike includes wage rollbacks even though FFAW members soundly rejected such cost-cutting proposals earlier this year.

FPI wants a rollback of just over $1 per hour, meaning an average plant workerwould earnabout $12.60.

Last year, FPI had proposed a round of concessions that included a pay cut of $2 per hour.

The FFAW is also willing to agree to concessions on vacation pay.

In return, FPI has budged in some areas. For instance, it has agreed to overtime provisions that the union wanted.

If the majority of voting members reject the tentative deal, the union will be in a legal strike position on April 30.