Workers at the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Mill are voting on whether to accept a deal that would see their pay rolled back by 10 per cent. (CBC)

Unionized workers at the Kruger Inc. newsprint mill in Corner Brook, N.L., begin voting Monday on a proposed deal that could see employees accept a 10 per cent cut in pay and possible other concessions in the future, CBC News has learned.

Officials from the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union met with the company Friday to talk about ways to save money at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill.

The union would only say it has received "a document that deals with wages."

The union has concerns about the money problems Kruger is struggling with, said Gary Healey, a national representative.

"This is a cornerstone industry for this area," he said. "We need to keep it, and we need to make sure it remains profitable."

If the workers accept the wage cut, talks may follow on other ways for the company to cut costs, including changes to the existing contract. The money would be returned to workers if the company is able to make up for losses incurred from Jan. 1.

Paper mills across the country have been struggling because of low newsprint prices and the high value of the Canadian dollar, along with the worldwide economic downturn.

Kruger has said it has to cut costs to survive.

Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, which employs more than 500 people, is the only newsprint manufacturer remaining in the province.

The company permanently shut down one of its papermaking machines and laid off 130 workers at the mill last summer.