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Members of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) in Fond du Lac, Oklahoma voted Sunday to reject a contract that included lower wages for new hires and workers returned from layoffs or furloughs. The vote clinched Mercury Marine's decision to close its Fond-du-Lac plant, and likely means that Fond-du-Lac will lose the company headquarters as well. Together, the facilities employ about 1,900 people. The company has said that it has been a trying time for all involved and that it will work closely with its employees to ensure that the upcoming transition period moves slowly. The union, remains bitter, and convinced that Mercury Marine did not intend for the contract to pass. The union claims that they had been completely open to continue bargaining but, at the last minute, the company added a number of provisions that would ensure failure. Members believe the plant would have closed whatever the results of the vote.