"It'll be a whole new world tomorrow..."
That was the word from union reps in Nova Scotia's Queen's County Wednesday night after workers voted to re-open their collective agreement with Bowater-Mersey in an effort to save the financially-troubled mill.
The final vote passed by the thinnest of margins: 51.7% in favour.
80 jobs will disappear, and 75 to 80% of the union contract will be renegotiated.
"I mean, its going be a different place to work for sure" said Steve Kennedy, President of Local 259 of the Paperworker's Union.
"It's hard for the full timers", said Carl Whynot a part-time vessel loader.
"I mean, they work a lot of years to get what they got and now, and (now) they've got to give everything up."
Still, major concessions from workers might not be enough to save the mill: Bowater also wants a cut in its power-bill, and some tax-breaks.
The municipality is doing what-it-can.
"We as a municipal government are offering a modest tax reduction", Queens County Mayor John Leefe told CTV News.
"We were asked to do that say a goodwill measure by the province, and we certainly are willing to comply. We will be dealing with that tomorrow at a special council meeting.
The company has a board meeting scheduled for next month.
