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Alliston, Ont. — An American labour union's move into Ontario has left the country's largest private sector union crying foul.

The United Auto Workers recently set up an office in Alliston, Ontario where Honda Canada operates two manufacturing plants.

The move has sparked dissent from the head of the Canadian Auto Workers, who said the U.S. union should stay south of the border.

"Somehow somebody come up with the idea, 'let's go to Canada and organize a transplant.' To me it just doesn't meet any kind of test of reality," said Buzz Hargrove.

Most organized autoworkers in Ontario belong to the CAW.

Gord Lilley, a UAW official, said his organization is not looking for a fight with any native unions.

"This is not about bumping heads with Honda or CAW or anybody else, it's about educating the workforce," he said.

"The Honda workers can come by, and any other workers for that matter, and get information."

In recent years Honda Canada has been the target of several organizing campaigns, all of them unsuccessful.

A manager with Honda Canada said the company hoped its workers did not feel the need to be represented by a third party.

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