UNIFOR local 594 are going back to work.

The membership of the union, which had been locked in a bitter dispute with the Co-op Refinery in Regina, voted 89 percent to accept the deal they had been presented with late last week.

That was the same margin that rejected a previous deal that had been offered by the refinery after the company rejected the recommendations of Vince Ready, a mediator that had been appointed by Premier Scott Moe.

Kevin Bittman, UNIFOR local 594 president says that new agreement keeps the defined benefit pension plan and the company matched savings plan for existing workers, while also adding some wage improvements.

One of Bittman's major concerns, however, were rumours that the refinery would be looking to fire a number of people upon returning to work.

"We're always concerned. You never know what the company is doing. We would never have guessed the company would have gone to all the tactics that they did already. So we'll take that in stride. We'll deal with what we have to deal with but we don't know that right now."

On ratifying the new agreement, he added that they would not walk into the plant with the company being able to fire people because the arbitration system in Saskatchewan, which he calls "broken" would take too long to rectify the matter.

The new seven-year deal includes a return-to-work agreement.

Speaking outside the legislature, Ryan Meili, who's NDP opposition urged the government to get involved, commented that the process took too long.

"We've been pushing hard for the premier to get involved, to take action. He didn't and this took months and months. It took too long. But I'm thankful that finally it's over and I just wish the best for the workers getting back on the job."

The 730 members had been locked out since December 5 of last year, with the strike lasting 196 days.