Madam Speaker, my colleague has reminded me of the rail strike, when the Bloc Quebecois was the official opposition and I was the critic in this area. I can tell the House I have more pleasant memories than those from that period of time when the rest of Canada was accusing us of holding up quick passage of the bill, while we simply insisted on the usual three days between the bill's introduction and its passing. We had proposed a perfectly acceptable amendment, which the government rejected. The next time around it agreed. We were told we were threatening Canada's economy.
I said two things at the time “If the Canadian economy cannot afford the Canadian Labour Code, then change it. Until then, we will defend those who abide by the code”.
I also learned at the time that workers were prepared to load and unload the grain anywhere. It is the employers that locked them out to force the government to pass special back-to-work legislation.
Labour relations are a complex issue. I understand your point of view, but potential disputes cannot be solved overnight. When workers feel they are not getting their fair share of the profits, when companies do not listen at all, some confrontation is bound to take place. When the economy is doing better, of course.
Does the final offer solve the problems? I have often heard members from this side express satisfaction that a final offer was made. I reviewed the issue, and I am prepared to do so again, but I am not convinced it would solve the problem at all. Indeed, if the final offer that is accepted is such that, afterwards, workers are so upset that they keep the company from operating at full capacity, nothing will have been solved.
I do not think this is the right solution. In any case, my colleague should realize that when unions are dynamic, strong and democratic, as most of them are, nothing can replace discussions between the workers' representatives and those of the employer. The code must keep such talks alive.
Again, I believe Quebec was the first to undergo this change in labour relations. Since the province was hard hit by the 1981-82 recession, unions had to adjust to the new reality.
A similar adjustment was also made in the rest of Canada. It is good for the union if a company does well, but the union must be recognized. A company should be willing to make compromises when the union is taking its needs into account. We must facilitate this kind of approach in Quebec and in Canada.
There is nothing better than a business whose employees feel truly involved. But for unions to be recognized, they must have a role to play; they must know that their proposals will be taken into account.