Toronto, Ontario – The Canadian Auto Workers Union (CAW) has reported that workers at Qualtech Seating Systems in London, Ontario have voted 74 per cent in favour of joining the union. The workers at the plant, which is owned by Magna International, also voted in favour of a new three-year collective agreement.

Qualtech is the second Magna plant to vote in favour of the Framework of Fairness, a master agreement with a common expiry; Windsor Modules joined the CAW in late 2007. Qualtech has 171 CAW members and produces seating systems for GM’s CAMI automotive in Ingersoll, Ontario.

“I would match the template of this agreement against any other in the parts sector,” said Hemi Mitic, assistant to CAW president Buzz Hargrove. “The workers want union security and the other gains we’ve been able to negotiate.”

The agreement, which expires in November 2010, provides for a signing bonus and wage adjustments in each year, along with Ontario inflation index increases. General provisions include arbitration procedures, union representation, layoff recall, job transfers, women’s advocate, social justice, paid education leave program and legal services. Magna has more than 40 auto plants; the CAW said it is “continuing to work towards welcoming workers at those facilities into the union under the Framework of Fairness.”