Clarence Gillis
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (C.C.F.)
Mr. GILLIS:
They are certified now?
Subtopic: CIVIL AVIATION AND COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICES- AIR TRANSPORT BOARD
Mr. GILLIS:
They are certified now?
Mr. HOWE:
Yes.
Mr. GILLIS:
I am afraid that in future they might be classified as technical employees. The engineers across Canada have a claim before the board now-
Mr. HOWE:
Does my hon. friend refer to railway engineers?
Mr. GILLIS:
No.
Mr. HOWE:
Professional engineers?
Mr. GILLIS:
Yes; they are tangled up on that basis. Just a short clause stating that they have the right to make trade union agreements and to organize would protect them. Of course, if they are certified now and have bargaining rights under the code, that is fine; but I should like to see it included in the bill. That code can be changed at any time.
I doubt if my hon. friend is speaking for labour organizations now. I have never been asked to include a labour code in an act.
Mr. GILLIS:
I doubt if there is anyone in the labour movement in Canada who would not want a clause provided in connection with an industry that will be as important in the future as aviation, stating that the employees of this industry have the right to bargain collectively. That is all it amounts to.
Mr. HOWE:
I will say this, that the pilots' organization is very wide awake; the association nas had time to apply for the protection
my hon. friend suggests, but it has not done so. To me this is an indication that it is not greatly interested in having a clause of that kind inserted.
Mr. GILLIS:
They take it for granted that in the government set-up they will have that right. The people I am speaking of are those who may be employed by the feeder lines which this board will license and who will not come under the government set-up.
Mr. JOHNSTON (Bow River):
I take it that they have that right now.
Mr. HOWE:
They have that right now.
Mr. JOHNSTON (Bow River):
Anyone working on the line.
Mr. GILLIS:
But this board has the right to license other lines.
Mr. JOHNSTON (Bow River):
I should like that cleared up. I take it that all employees) whether they are on the feeder lines or on t'he government line, will have the right to join a labour organization and to carry on collective bargaining.
Mr. HOWE:
Yes, they have the right to collective bargaining; they can be certified by the board, and the provisions of the labour relations act will apply. There is no doubt about that. The idea is firmly established all through the aircraft industry among the airmen, the mechanics and all other branches. It is well understood that there are recognized unions certified as bargaining agents, and that anyone who applies to be certified can qualify. There is no question about it.
Mr. GILLIS:
Does that apply to the C.P.A.
lines too?
Mr. HOWE:
Yes.
Mr. GILLIS:
It does not apply to both railway lines. Certain employees of the Canadian Pacific have not bargaining rights, while comparable employees of the Canadian National have.