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ESCANABA -- After three years of bargaining, union workers at NewPage in Escanaba have a new contract.

The United Steelworkers Local 21 narrowly approved the new labor agreement.

The contract covers 817 union members.  It runs through June 1, 2014.

It's a six year contract that covers the three previous years they've been working without a contract.

The contract is not retroactive, but workers did get a lump sum settlement.

The contract calls for 26 immediate job cuts, but union officials believe that number could be as high as 100 to 150 in the coming years.

Union president Bryon Branstrom opposed the contract.  He said it fell short of certain language he wanted included.

Branstrom said the disagreement was never about money, but rather unsafe working conditions.