HALIFAX, Nova Scotia-The Nova Scotia Labor Relations Board has rejected a Canadian Auto Workers' appeal of its recently defeated attempt to organize three Michelin Tires (Canada) Ltd. plants. The board made its decision after dismissing the CAW's contention that Michelin exaggerated its hourly employment rosters at the Nova Scotia factories.
Earlier this year, the union had fallen 3 percent short of the required 40 percent support of about 3,000 hourly workers to unionize the plants, according to Larry Wark, CAW area director.
As a result of the appeal, Michelin submitted an updated roster that trimmed its original figures by 100-250 less than the number the union had questioned, Mr. Wark said.
The board also barred the union from filing a new unionization application for three months.
``This action once again confirms that the majority of Michelin employees do not want a union,'' a Michelin spokesman said.
This latest campaign to unionize began in February and was the CAW's third attempt. Other unions have tried on six occasions to organize Michelin workers since the French tire maker came to Nova Scotia 25 years ago.
CAW officials will meet with union activists at the three plants to discuss long-term plans for organizing the factories, Mr. Wark said.
He added that the national union plans to establish a local to allow it day-to-day contact with the company's workers.
``We have a right under our constitution to charter the three plants as CAW locals, even though they don't have a collective agreement,'' Mr. Wark said.
Michelin employs about 4,000 people at its plants in Granton, Bridgewater and Waterville.