The vote, due to take place on 27 April, was dropped after Quebecor World's parent company in Canada refused to accept an agreement which had been reached by Amicus GPMS and local management.

Amicus GPMS East of England branch secretary Vernon Robson said that Quebecor's Canadian head office had rejected the agreed terms, demanding a further 400,000 in savings.

"The company moved the goalposts. They still want some cost savings somewhere. We haven't agreed to that, and local talks are still going on," he said.

Robson was due to meet again with management yesterday (4 May), in a bid to reach agreement on terms and conditions for the 410 workers whose jobs are unaffected by the loss of the huge Associated Newspapers supplement contract.

"We've got to reach an agreement very soon. But there now isn't going to be time for us to have a vote before the weekend," said Robson.

Around 380 staff at the plant are to be made redundant following the loss of the Associated work to Polestar Sheffield.

Robson said that 30 workers have already left under agreed redundancy terms, with a further 200 due to finish work at the end of next week. The rest of the affected staff will leave by June, when the contract transfers fully to Polestar's new gravure plant.

Quebecor World was unavailable for comment.

Timeline
June 2004 Associated contract lost to Polestar
December 2004 Cutback plans revealed. Statutory
90-day notice begins
April 2005 Vote due on working terms and conditions. Staff departures begin
May 2005 Associated contract transfers to Polestar Sheffield

Story by Josh Brooks