Hello Sisters, Brothers and Friends,
The National Office of the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) has been receiving many inquiries from members about the Letter of Agreement (LOA) concluded during this round of bargaining and the Commissioner’s message concerning the launch of the mandatory Work Arrangement Agreements (WAA).
Please be advised that the current Rollout of On-site Presence (ROOP) remains in place until such time as the parties to the collective agreement establish a joint union-management committee to review the current policy on remote work and to recommend changes, if any, to this policy. Pursuant to the LOA, the parties have ninety (90) days to establish this committee and to commence its review.
We have held our first exploratory meeting with the employer yesterday to identify issues that will be needed to be decided by the committee and to commence consultation on the terms of reference of the committee. We are also exchanging potential dates for the joint committee to convene its first meeting.
Until the committee meets and develops a new policy, as stated above, the current ROOP remains place. As a result, the employer is requesting that employees renew their WAA. The only change for now is that the employer is requesting that employees who work from the office at all times also sign a WAA, not only those working partially or entirely remotely. While the employer states in the Commissioner’s announcement that this WAA is to remain in place for a year, UTE’s position is that employees may submit revised WAA when circumstances warrant it. Additionally, we anticipate that when the joint committee reissues a new policy after its deliberations, employees will be invited to submit a new WAA.
It is the employer’s right to request a WAA with respect to the current ROOP, notwithstanding the fact that we do not agree with the employer’s decision to do so at this time.
At the June National Union Management Committee meeting, the Commissioner announced that it is the employer’s intention to maintain the current Treasury Board position and that of the CRA to have employees report forty (40) percent of their time in the office, saved and except those exemptions and exceptions currently announced by the employer. In response, UTE advocated that this is inconsistent with the provisions of the LOA where it states that each case would be reviewed on its own merit.
The LOA also calls for the appointment of a joint panel to deal with disputes concerning the revised policy on remote work that will be created by the joint committee. This joint panel has yet to be established until the terms of reference and the composition of the panel is agreed upon by the parties.
Many members have asked us if they can submit a request at this time to allow them to work from home exclusively. You may request a new WAA at any time, but if you do so, please be reminded that the current ROOP remains in effect until the revised policy is issued, and your requests will most likely be denied by the employer. We are not optimistic for a successful outcome to any grievances against the current ROOP. Once the work of the committee is completed, which will take some time, and the panel on the review of grievances is established, then you may be in a more advantageous position to request changes to your WAA, or to submit a new WAA. At that time, should the employer deny your request, you will have a new window to submit a grievance on the matter.
Further information will be provided in due course. In the interim, should you have any questions or concerns, please speak with one of your local union representatives.
I have attached below, for your convenience, a copy of the LOA that was agreed to by the parties.
In Solidarity,
Marc Brière
National President
Union of Taxation Employees