Humphrey Mitchell (Minister of Labour)
Liberal
Hon. HUMPHREY MITCHELL (Minister of Labour):
Mr. Spea*ker, in announcing on November 27 that a new formula had been agreed upon which I hoped would have the effect of settling the strike of the employees of the Ford Motor Company at Windsor I refrained from giving the details. I now wish to place on the record copy of the letter which was addressed to both parties and signed jointly by Hon. Charles Daley, Minister of Labour for Ontario, and myself.
The letter read as follows:
Ottawa, November 27, 1945
Mr. D. B. Greig,
Treasurer,
The Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, Windsor, Ontario.
Mr. George Burt,
Regional Director, UA.W-C.l.O,
Windsor, Ontario.
Gentlemen:
The strike of employees at the Windsor plants of the Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, has reached a stage where the welfare of a large number of citizens is in danger and all reconversion plans are being seriously retarded. The strike is now going into its seventy-sixth day and many and earnest attempts have been made to bring about a settlement.
The company has agreed to arbitration of all issues in dispute and we are aware that the arbitration principle is not repugnant to the union.
After very careful and exhaustive investigation we have concluded that the strike can be disposed of by the dominion government appointing an umpire and an arbitrator and through the compliance by the parties of the terms stated herein.
We call upon both parties in the' interest of the many Canadian citizens concerned to settle this strike by putting this plan into effect at once.
The Minister of Labour shall appoint an "umpire of labour relations", to yvhom shall be referred by either of the parties, during the period pending the execution of a collective bargaining agreement, any alleged breach of the conditions of this plan or any injustice alleged by an employee with respect to conditions of his employment and the decision of such "umpire" shall be final and binding upon both parties.
fThe Chairman.]
2. The Minister of Labour shall appoint an "arbitrator" from among the judges of the supreme court of Canada to whom may be referred by the parties any points remaining in dispute between them following a period of collective bargaining negotiations (not to exceed ten days or such longer period as the parties may mutually agree to) concerning a new collective agreement, and his decision upon the points in dispute with respect thereto and *with respect to the wording in any particular of the agreement to be negotiated shall be final and binding save that all matters over which the regional war labour board for Ontario or the national war labour board has jurisdiction shall not be decided by said "arbitrator''.
3. The company shall reopen its plants and recall the employees back to work as rapidly as practicable and without discrimination and in accordance with seniority principles. The union shall declare the strike at an end.
4. Upon compliance with this direction, collective bargaining is to be resumed forth-
* with, and such points, if any, upon which the parties cannot agree shall - be referred to the "arbitrator" to be dealt with as indicated herein. In order to expedite negotiations and in order that the arbitrator may be familiar with the details of the matters at issue between the parties, he shall be present at collective bargaining meetings. *
Yours faithfully,
(Sgd.) Humphrey Mitchell,
Minister of Labour, Dominion Government. (Sgd.) Charles Daley,
Minister of Labour, Ontario Government.
I was informed by the Ford Motor Company yesterday that the executive of that company found the proposals acceptable. The letter I received, dated November 2S and signed by Mr. D. B. Greig, treasurer of the Ford Motor Company of Canada Limited, reads as follows:
Windsor, November 28, 1945. The Honourable Humphrey Mitchell,
Minister of Labour. Dominion Government, Parliament Buildings,
Ottawa, Ontario.
Dear Mr. Minister:
This letter will acknowledge receipt of the communication dated the 27th instant issued jointly by the Honourable Charles Daley, Minister of Labour, Ontario government, and yourself.
The company is prepared to carry out its part of the plan outlined in the above-mentioned communication.
Yours very truly,
Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited, (Sgd.) D. B. Greig,
Treasurer.
I have no official word from the union in respect to the meeting of the workers held yesterday, nor have I any details other than those I am sure hon. members of the house ha.ve noted in the newspapers this morning.
Unemployment in Vancouver
Subtopic: STRIKE AT FORD MOTOR PLANT, WINDSOR