By Paul Rachwal
Tuesday, Mar 18th, 2008 @ 8:05 am

A statement from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union on Monday alleges Toyota sent a communication to employees at the Cambridge, Ontario plant that is unlawful. The message swayed workers from voting for a union, a a for which a representation election is planned for Thursday. According to union spokesman Bill Trbovich, the Machinists filed a complaint with Ontario’s Labour Relations Board.

The message “crossed the line set by the law, which prevents employers from intimidating and unduly influencing employees to vote against a union,†the IAMAW statement said, according to The Detroit News.

Toyota plans to challenge the union to prove it has enough signed cards and will request a sealed vote, at least until labor officials make a judgment, the company said on Saturday. Over 40 percent of workers at the plant indicated they are in favor of a union during a November card collection, said IAMAW organizer Ian Morland. The Labour Board needs 40 percent of workers in favor to hold a secret-ballot election.

If the IAMAW succeeds in its efforts to form a union at the Toyota plant, it will become the first labor group in North America to do so at an assembly plant owned by Toyota, Honda , Nissan or Hyundai . The United Auto Workers tried to form a union at Toyota’s Kentucky plant last year, but that effort was shut down. A similar attempt was also made at Nissan’s Tennessee factory.

Toyota builds Corolla and Matrix cars and their engines, as well as the Lexus RX350 SUV, at the Cambridge plant, with a second plant in Woodstock, ON due to open next year.

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