Union News April 2018
Over the last several years, the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) have experienced, from time to time, a serious strain and lapse with respect to our Union-Management relationship. In fact, at one point, UTE officially withdrew from the union-management consultation process. Many factors contributed to the erosion of our interaction with each other, including but not limited to UTE’s perception that consultation was quite often not meaningful, but instead a mere briefing by the employer on significant issues affecting our members. Moreover, the tensions and difficulties encountered by the parties during the four-year negotiations for a new collective agreement certainly had an influence on our relationship.
As a result, towards the end of 2017 and early into this year, I have had the opportunity to meet with the Commissioner of the CRA to discuss ways to improve the Union-Management relationship between us. I am pleased to report that we have agreed upon a renewed commitment to meaningful consultation. This renewed commitment has led to the resolution of two major issues affecting many of our members across the country through the successful negotiation of two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs).
The first of these was the agreement on recruitment and retention incentives for our SP04, SP05 and SP06 Compensation Advisors, similar to the incentives offered to those in the core public service.
The second MOU served to rectify a problem arising from the negotiation of our last collective agreement affecting our term members. Following the conclusion of bargaining, it was brought to our attention that members in some regions were being adversely affected by the inclusion of newly negotiated clauses 34.03 and 61.04. For greater clarity, some term members who had reached their end of term and were eligible for rehire were advised that their eligibility for vacation leave credits would be reset to their new date of hire and that past service would not be counted in their accumulation of vacation leave credits.
The fact that the Agency also decided to review its Greater Toronto Area Service Modernization Plan and took the time to consult with UTE, the AFS group, and the affected employees is another concrete example of this renewed commitment to meaningful consultation. The Employer continues to consult with us during the Implementation Phase.
This renewed commitment to consultation is slowly trickling down to all levels of both organizations, but we recognize that changing cultures and styles take time. We know that we still have problems in some offices. While we are committed to this new spirit of consultation, we will remain vigilant of our members’ interests and rights and will avail ourselves of legislated and negotiated recourse and redress procedures, if necessary.
The hearing for the wage reopener took place in front of the Conciliation Board on January 31st. We presented our case and so did the CRA. We decided to have a two-fold plan. First, we tabled an offer asking for a 3% wage adjustment plus 0.50% for each of the two (2) years concerned, 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. The 3% wage adjustment relates to the average wage gap between our members and those belonging to the FB group (non-armed officers at the Canada Border Services Agency). As a worst-case scenario alternative, we tabled an offer of 0.75% for each year. The Employer tabled an offer of 0.25% for each year. The Conciliation Board has two (2) months to render its binding decision as per the agreement signed by both parties.
As you know, we will also enter into a new round of Collective Bargaining in the very near future. We are well prepared and ready to enter this round with enthusiasm and hope that the negotiations will unfold smoothly. I certainly hope that renewed commitment to consultation between the parties will positively impact this round of bargaining. With the continuous and growing support of our members, we have gained momentum during the last round.
Let’s keep standing strong together and we will be successful in achieving our goals and objectives! Support your bargaining team!
In Solidarity,
Marc Brière
UTE National President