Hello Sisters, Brothers and Friends,
As you may be aware, subsequent to the conclusion of the recent round of negotiations with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), we were advised by the employer of their intention to end the contract for a large number of our term members. This information was not disclosed to the Union of Taxation Employes (UTE) or to our bargaining team during negotiations, where the parties agreed to the provision for a lump-sum payment payable to employees in the bargaining unit on the date of signing the new collective agreement.
While the employer explained after negotiations were concluded that the end of these term contracts was not intended to avoid the payment of the lump-sum, and explained that their decision was made solely based on workload and budgetary considerations, we strongly believe that this information was already available to the employer and should have been shared with our bargaining team. Had we known that many of our term members’ specified period employment would have been terminated before the signing of the new collective agreement, we would likely have attempted to negotiate language to ensure payment of the lump-sum to all term members on the date of negotiation of this provision, and not just those members who were employees of the bargaining unit on the date of signing of the agreement (June 27, 2023).
As a result, I would like to inform you that after consultation with the PSAC, we have filed an unfair labour practice complaint with the Federal Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board against the CRA for failing to disclose to the union its decision to prematurely end the contracts of a large number of term employees. It is our position that the employer's failure to disclose this material and significant information adversely affecting many of our members, while still being at the bargaining table, constitutes a violation of its duty to bargain in good faith.
We will keep you apprised of the progress of this matter as information becomes available.
In Solidarity,
Marc Brière
National President
Union of Taxation Employees