moved for leave to introduce Bill C-310, an act to provide resumption of operations of Archer Daniel Midland Ltd.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide a few details on this bill.
There is a labour dispute between ADM Agri-Industries Ltd. and the Ogilvie Mills Ltd employees union affecting some 150 production employees. The parties are negotiating a new collective agreement to replace the one which expired on January 31, 1992.
A conciliator and then a mediator were appointed to help the parties resolve their differences. Unfortunately, little progress has been made up to now. The union declared a legal general strike on June 6, 1994. The strike begun eight months ago is continuing. The employer has continued its activities with the help of replacement workers.
I am therefore proposing a bill to provide for the appointment of an arbitrator to resolve this dispute, and, within 30 days, or longer, with the approval of the minister, the arbitrator should determine the issues on which the parties agreed, make an arbitration award on unresolved issues and prepare a memorandum of understanding for a return to work.
The bill contains provisions to require the parties to accept the memorandum of agreement for the return to work and the resumption of operations. It also contains sanctions in the form of fines, in the event the act is contravened. The act would come into force the day after royal assent.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)