Essar Steel Algoma Inc. and United Steelworkers union Local 2724 were girding for a strike late Friday, even as workers were voting on the company's latest contract proposal.

A strike would be the first in two decades at the plant.

The Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario-based company made a contract proposal to the union at midnight Thursday?48 hours before the existing contract was set to expire?and the USW local scheduled three informational meetings and voting on the proposal over the following two days.

Ian Kersley, president of USW Local 2724, which represents about 600 front-line technical and professional staff at Essar Steel Algoma, was said to be in negotiations Friday afternoon and unavailable for comment. Calls to the company seeking an update on the status of the situation were not returned.

Essar Steel Algoma, though, appeared to be...