moved that Bill C-313, an act to provide for the resumption and continuance of the operations at ADM Agri-Industries Ltd., be read the second time and referred to a committee.
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to introduce Bill C-313 in the House today. However, I regret the fact that this legislation is necessary to put an end to the dispute at ADM Agri-Industries Ltd. The events leading up to Bill C-313 are as follows: a labour dispute between ADM Agri-Industries Ltd. and the National Syndicate of Employees of Ogilvie Flour Mills Company Ltd. has affected about 150 employees involved in production.
The parties started negotiations on the renewal of the collective agreement that expired on January 31, 1992. A conciliator and then a mediator were appointed to help the parties settle their differences. Unfortunately, very little progress was made.
The union called a legal general strike on June 6, 1994. This strike, which has been going on for 11 months, has not prevented the employer from continuing operations, since the employer hired replacement workers, which has undermined the bargaining position of ADM's regular employees.
Bill C-313 proposes final offer selection as a way to settle the dispute. Within 30 days after being appointed, or within such greater period as will be specified by the Minister, the arbitrator shall, first of all, determine the matters on which the employer and the union were in agreement at cut-off time; second, determine the matters remaining in dispute at cut-off time; third, select, in order to resolve the matters remaining in dispute, either the final offer submitted by the employer or the final offer submitted by the union; fourth, determine a back to work protocol.
Meanwhile, employees would go back to work in accordance with the provisions of the protocol. The bill would contain provisions obliging the parties to abide by the back to work protocol and resume operations. The bill's enforcement provisions include fines in the case of an individual who contravenes a provision of this legislation. Bill C-313 is not anti-scab legislation.
The purpose of this bill is to deal with a specific situation that currently exists at ADM. Many of my constituents have worked for ADM for more than 20 years. Today, they are out of work and have little hope of getting back their jobs. They want to go back to work, and they want to negotiate. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I said the employees' union wants to negotiate.
On April 26, following promises from the company that it would go back to the bargaining table and because there was some hope of obtaining a negotiated agreement, the National Syndicate of Employees of Ogilvie Flour Mills Company Ltd. sent me a fax in which they asked me to withdraw this bill.
On May 1, the union met with the company, and by May 2, before the bill could even be withdrawn, yet again, the union sent me another fax saying: "Since our letter of April 26, we have been to two mediation sessions with Warren Edmunston and Rock St-Hilaire. The attitude of ADM Ltd. at those sessions, despite the fact that the strike has dragged on for 11 months now, has made us reconsider our position regarding the bill that you tabled. Effectively, on the critical issues, ADM's vice-president has said that there was no reason for compromise".
"Do you know what that means? That means that there is no reason for them to compromise. Needless to say, the hope of reaching a negotiated settlement has never been so dim".
"That is why we are now asking you to bring Bill C-313 before the tripartite committee of the House of Commons. Of course, when the time comes, we would like to be heard with regard to this bill, because we could suggest a few amendments".
"Nevertheless, in principle, the bill is an acceptable mid term solution and will at least guarantee that the workers at the Ogilvie flour mill will have a decent future and that they can return to work their pride intact".
"It is certain that a negotiated settlement would be the preferred solution. However, this cannot end up being a settling of accounts in which one party squarely comes out the winner. That is why we believe that this bill could very well be the preferred solution to the stalemate in which we dread we will find ourselves".
"I hope to hear from you soon and would like to thank you for the interest you have shown in the workers I represent".
The letter was signed Claude Tremblay, president of the National Syndicate of Employees of Ogilvie Flour Mills Co. Ltd.
I am convinced that it was very difficult for them to reverse their decision about having the bill withdrawn. As some of you already know, ADM Ltd.'s factory at Candiac and the union came to an agreement very quickly. There is, however, a major difference between the Candiac factory and the one in Montreal, located in my riding. The difference is as follows: the Candiac plant processes flour and is under the control of the provincial government. It is covered by anti-strikebreaking legislation, and the union could have halted ADM's activities there.
In Montreal, however, the ADM mills come under federal legislation, which permits the hiring of replacement workers. As we say, "the company has the big end of the stick". It can say to the union, through its vice-president: "We have no reasons for compromise".
This is no way to treat people. Faithful employees, who have given twenty years of service or more to this company are now, after an eleven month strike, in debt, without hope and unable to feed their family.
Workers have pride too and are happy to earn their living. As the Prime Minister put it in one his speeches, a father is proud to earn a living in order to be able to put food on the table for his children. When they came to see me at my office, they were not looking for handouts. They simply wanted to be able to bargain in good faith and to return to their jobs, which have been given to replacement workers.
As we know, whenever a company has the upper hand, it is forever critical of the people who have given their life for it. People may have worked 30 years of their life for a company and have it say today: "No, not a chance. You will be out in the street with no chance of renegotiating your seniority". The employees of ADM are not asking for a salary increase; they earn between $17 and $19 an hour. They are proud of what they earn. All they want is recognition of their seniority. The owner, Dwayne
Andrew, a multimillionaire, does not want to negotiate with ADM.
I therefore request the unanimous consent of this House to move:
That Bill C-313 be declared a votable item, pursuant to Standing Order 93.
