Lawrence MacAulay

[Canada Post, November 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated previously, I have offered the services of a mediator to both parties to let them get back to the table and come up with an agreement. Why not let CUPW and the post office use a mediator and come up with an agreement that will be better for all Canadians?

[Canada Post, November 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, there are many things stated during negotiations but, quite simply, we have a process in this country. Under Part I of the code, it is my responsibility to see that the process is let work.

There are a number of stages in the process and that is what we are going through. Let the system work.

[Canada Post, November 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague is well aware, I have not indicated anything about back to work legislation.

What I have tried to do is let the system work. I ask my hon. colleague to do the same, to let them get back to the table and come up with an agreement that will be better for all Canadians.

[Canada Post, November 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated previously to the House, I am bringing in legislation to bring Part I of the Canada Labour Code up to date.

There were consultations over the last two years and one thing that neither labour nor management pushed for was to take the collective bargaining rights away.

[Canada Post, November 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have offered both sides the assistance of a mediator to help get them back to the table and come up with a collective agreement.

I ask my hon. colleague to let both sides deal with the issue and come up with an agreement that is better for both sides and let the mediator do his or her work.

[Canada Post, November 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, final offer selection is a form of arbitration. Quite simply, we are not at that stage yet. What we want is a collective agreement. Final offer selection is a process that works in specific areas only and is not useful in this situation.

[Canada Post, November 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot imagine a party which always pushed for less government now pushing for more interference by government. This is a process that has worked. Let the process work and let the parties come up with an agreement.

[Canada Post, November 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, we are monitoring the situation very closely. The government is very concerned about the situation.

What we want is for the parties to get back to the table and come up with a collective agreement.

[Canada Post, November 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, we are going through a process, a process that has worked well for this country.

My colleague mentions the process and the number of strikes that have taken place. Over the last year, 94.5% of the companies under the federal jurisdiction have been settled without a work stoppage.

In the seven months of this year, there have been fewer days lost than that.

[Canada Post, November 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, under the collective bargaining system the parties have the right to strike. It is unfortunate when we get to this point, but it is the right under part I of the Canada Labour Code and we must adhere to the laws of the land.