Canada. Commission of Inquiry into Working Conditions in the Post Office Department : The Commission to Inquire into the Post Office Department Concerning Grievances Relating to Work Rules, Codes of Discipline and other Conditions of Employment Applying to Non-supervisory Operating Employees, Exclusive of Salaries; in doing so, to consult with Officers of the Department and of Organizations Representing Employees; and, Keeping in mind both the Welfare of Employees and the Efficient Operations of the Postal Service, to Report thereon and to Recommend such Changes in Existing Practices as may be in the Public Interest was established under Order in Council, P.C. 1590, 1 September 1965, under Part I of the Inquiries Act (R.S.C., 1952, c.154) and on recommendation of the Postmaster General. The Commission was mandated to inquire into and report on the Post Office Department concerning grievances relating to work rules, codes of discipline and other conditions of employment applying to non-supervisory operating employees, exclusive of salaries; in doing so, to consult with officers of the department and of organizations representing employees; keeping in mind both the welfare of employees and the efficient operation of the postal service, and to recommend such changes in existing practises as may be in the public interest. The commissioner was André Montpetit. The secretary was Helen M. Roney.
Early in 1965, postal workers expressed discontent over Treasury Board's delay in announcing salary revisions for them. The three unions, which comprised the Postal Workers' Brotherhood threatened to strike if their demands were not met. They wanted an increase of 60 per annum for all classes of workers. This was well above the government's offer of from 00 to 60 per annum.
On 21 July 1965, the federal Cabinet met to discuss the issue. The government offered to appoint a Commissioner to study postal wages but, the very next day, postal workers in Montreal and Vancouver went out on strike. Soon, about 17,000, out of some 22,000 letter carriers and mail sorters across Canada, were on a "wildcat" strike.
On 23 July, the government appointed Judge J.C. Anderson, to investigate the increases in rates of pay offered to postal workers. At that time, the Prime Minister asked the strikers to return to work by promising prompt action on Anderson's recommendations.
On 26 July, the Executive Committee of the Postal Workers' Brotherhood urged the postal workers to comply with government's request. But, by the 28 July, only about 40 percent of the strikers returned to work. By 30 July, most postal employees ended their illegal walk out. In the city and district of Montreal, however, the postal workers stayed out on strike. On 3 August, the government started to use non-union labour to sort mail in Montreal. The next day, postal workers were offered an increase of from 10 to 60 per annum as recommended by Anderson's report.
Once again, the Prime Minister of Canada demanded that the Montreal strikers accept the arbitrator's wage offer and return to work. But, the Montreal locals, as well as some workers elsewhere, rejected the proposal.
Finally, on 9 August, all the strikers, including those in the Montreal area, returned to work. On 24 August, the new wage schedule was accepted by the postal unions but the Montreal locals did not participate in the vote.
On 20 August, Anderson's second report, recommending that the government review working conditions and hours of work of postal employees was submitted. The postal unions requested that the government act on this recommendation. The government responded by appointing a royal commission to study grievances relating to work rules, codes of discipline and other conditions of employment applying to non-supervisory employees of the Post Office. (See Canadian Annual Review, 1965, pp. 389-391; Labour Gazette, Vol. LXV, No. 9, September 1965, p. 789; Labour Relations in the Post Office: A Chronology, unpublished manuscript of the Labour Relations Branch, Canada Post, amended 15 September 1979, pp. 6-11 and Second Interim Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Rates of Pay for Civil Servants in Group D, n.d., p. 7).
From 20 September 1965 to 16 June 1966, private meetings and in-camera hearings were held with postmasters, district directors, representatives of postal unions and others, in Saint John's, Halifax, Moncton, Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, Windsor, Fort William, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria. There were 227 exhibits filed with the commission. RG33-90 General Inventory
