Laid-off workers at the Federal Gypsum plant in Cape Breton say they've agreed to hold off on a blockade in order to get the wages they're owed.

A group of workers met Tuesday with a representative from Century Services, the Toronto firm handling finances for the plant outside Port Hawkesbury.

The plant has been shut down since mid-June, but shipments of wallboard have continued.

Dozens of workers haven't been paid for four weeks and they don't expect to receive employment insurance for another two weeks. They've been threatening to blockade the plant until they're paid back wages.

But the workers say they were told that if they let wallboard continue to leave the plant, they'll get any profits left after Century Services is paid.

"I voted to blockade the plant because I don't really think we'll be seeing any money," said Hughie Beaton. "But we took a vote and it went against my wishes. I really can't blame anyone for taking that position because you don't like to lose the money that you've worked for."

Dave Stewart said he feels squeezed between a rock and a hard place.

"That's all I want is the money and they're just jerking us around, so if we block it I guess there's no way of any of us getting our money because no board is going to get shipped out," Stewart said.

Federal Gypsum vice-president Michael Simpson, contacted in Texas, suggested the employees need to co-operate if they ever want to get paid.

"If the employees make it difficult and they have to get a bunch of legal costs, then they could eat up the entire $200,000 that's available to pay the employees," Simpson said.

A spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Workforce Development said it wants to ensure that any deal worked out for sales of existing product includes money for the employees.

Federal Gypsum said last month that high energy costs and a slumping U.S. housing market were behind the decision to temporarily shut down the plant.