L’expérience d’une Commission conjointe de recherche dans un cas de conversion industrielle

L'auteur expose l’objet, la méthode, les difficultés et les résultats d'une commission conjointe de recherche dans un cas de conversion industrielle. In October 1964, Domtar Pulp and Paper announced a modernization program at the Pulp and Paper Mill it operated at Windsor, Québec. Windsor is a community with about 6,000 people and the Mill is the only plant in the place. Domtar was giving employment to about 1,000 workers, and first estimated that there would be a layoff of 250 workers as a result. Afterwards, this number was reduced to 172. The layoff was to be made gradually, starting at the end of 1965. In order to avoid as far as possible the sad consequences for the workers involved as well as the negative effects for the economy of the community, under the suggestion of the Manpower Consultative Service of the Department of Labour of Canada and the Department of Labour of Québec, the Company and the Syndicat national agreed to create a Research Commission which would study the problem. The Commission was set up in April 1965 under the chairmanship of a university professor with 3 representatives of the Company and 3 representatives of the Syndicat. The Government of Canada and the Government of Québec also had one observer on the Commission. This one was to report before the 31st of August ; but the period was afterwards extended to the 4th September 1965. Article 4 of the Agreement between the four parties described the mandate of the Commission : 4. « The research committee shall have the following terms of reference insofar as they relate only to possible lay-off of employees of the Company at Windsor resulting from the modernization of the plant : (a) The Committee shall meet under the direction of its Chairman ( i ) to adopt rules for the conduct of its meetings and for the general conduct of its activities ; (ii) to determine the areas and directions of studies to be carried out, and to prepare an estimate of the cost of such studies, and to submit such estimate for approval to the Company and the Syndicate ; (iii) to conduct approved studies, to identify and evaluate the effects of this modernization on employment with a view to determining what measures can be taken to avoid lay-offs, or what adjustments are required in manpower to meet the impact of such modernization ; (iv) to review the report of studies carried out and to formulate recommendations based on the findings of such reports ; (v) to submit reports and recommendations to the Com