BUFFALO — Managers of the Toyota manufacturing plant in Buffalo have decided to allow workers to distribute union literature during breaks at the plant.

Last month, some Toyota employees and the United Auto Workers filed a grievance with the National Labor Relations Board�s regional office in Cincinnati, complaining that they were prohibited from distributing union literature on Nov. 6.

Jeff Moore, a Toyota vice president in West Virginia, recently posted a notice inside the plant reversing that policy.

Workers take breaks in �group houses,� Moore wrote. �We have therefore concluded that informing the team members that they could not distribute literature may have been improper ... we will not prohibit solicitation or distribution of literature in Group Houses,� Moore wrote.

Mike Lemaster, a Toyota worker for nearly three years, said, �Toyota now allows you to talk about the union and distribute literature in the group houses. They also decided to let you talk to people out on the line, as long as it does not distract you from work. Before, any union activity was totally illegal in their eyes.�

Tammy Hamby, a Toyota worker for 11 years, said, �We are thrilled we are now allowed to discuss union organizing with our co-workers. We do not want to disrespect anyone who does not want to talk about it. But we want to get information out there about what is going on.�

Julia Daugherty, a UAW assistant organizing director in Detroit, said, �We are very pleased with Toyota�s decision not to interfere with workers� rights to communicate, recognizing they have the right to distribute literature in non-work areas at non-work times. We filed the (NLRB) charge to help them. It looks like Toyota recognized they were wrong.�

Moore�s notice also stated, �We want to reiterate that federal law gives you the right to form, join or assist a union; choose representation to bargain with us on your behalf; act together with other employees for your benefit and protection; and choose not to engage in any of these protected activities.�

Lemaster said things have already gotten better at the plant, which employs 1,050.

�You see people talking about the union and asking questions more freely now. Before, they feared for their jobs, feared for their positions in the plant.�

Lemaster now works on the production line that recently began making six-cylinder engines for RAV4 sports utility vehicles.

�I am glad the union supported many of our team members. Toyota is a good place to work. We have good pay, vacations and benefits packages.

�We want to have a part in what goes on here. We just want a voice,� Lemaster said.