If the union wins, it will be the first time that a Japanese owned auto plant in North America has been unionized, with the exception of factories that began as joint ventures with American-based companies. The company has been recognized for its successful participatory management practices, and the union vote is viewed as a challenge to that system.
See "Canada Vote May Bring First Union to Japan Carmaker", Micheline Maynard, The New York Times, July 5, 2001