Globe and Mail workers vote for strike mandate

* Union workers back strike mandate by 97 pct

* Union says company presenting new offer on Monday

TORONTO, June 21 (Reuters) - Workers at Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper voted 97 percent in favor of authorizing their union to call a strike if they fail to negotiate a new contract, a senior union official said on Sunday.

More than 300 of the 311 reporters, circulation and sales staff participating voted in favour of the strike mandate on Saturday said Brad Honywill, president of Local 87-M of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union.

The current contract expires June 30 and a strike or a lockout at the national paper could take place immediately afterward.

"Either side could pull the trigger at that point," he said.

Honywill said managers of the Toronto-based newspaper were set to bring a new proposal to the bargaining table on Monday.

"If it makes a significant improvement over the previous offer the union will bring it back to the membership for another vote," he said.

Globe and Mail publisher Phillip Crawley said on Tuesday he would not comment on the talks while they are ongoing.