Report of the President - Executive Council

Marc Brière – Item 6

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING:

The final preparations for the next round of bargaining have been completed. Dates have been set for June 19 to 21 for the first meeting between the two parties (i.e. the Canada Revenue Agency bargaining team and the Union of Taxation Employees-Public Service Alliance of Canada bargaining team). The bargaining teams will exchange their respective demands. Once the exchange has taken place, the demands for both parties will be available on the UTE and PSAC websites.

PROBLEMS WITH THE PHOENIX PAY SYSTEM:

Some of our members unfortunately continue to have problems with their pay. In the past few weeks, my Executive Assistant, Daniel Camara, has been following up with the employer regarding the issues raised by our members concerning the fact that some of them are not receiving, among other things, their bilingual bonus. The employer informed us that they are monitoring the situation closely and are working with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to remedy the situation. To make corrections to affected employees’ accounts, PSPC must identify those accounts, determine how to process them, and provide them with directives.

Until PSPC informs CRA about how to process affected accounts, they will continue to raise this question at their bimonthly monitoring meetings with PSPC. When CRA receives additional information, they will share it with the affected employees and CRA will update the webpage about known problems linked to Phoenix.

Rest assured that any new problem that arises is flagged to PSPC through the Agency.

We continue to encourage members to talk to their supervisor about their situation but also to notify one of their local union representatives for assistance. We also continue to remind locals to abide by the MOU with the CRA regarding compensation issues.

AGMs:

The Annual General Meetings (AGM) season is coming to an end and our national officers have attended many of them. It's always nice and rewarding to be able to discuss with the members and our local union representatives to stay abreast of issues that matter to them on a day-to-day basis.

2018 PSAC CONVENTION:

I would like to thank all the members of the Executive Council and the delegates from the locals for the way you conducted yourselves both in and out of the Convention floor. I am proud of the commitment shown all week by our entire delegation. A number of our delegates made great comments at the microphone on different highly important issues.

It is disappointing that the resolution on the electronic voting passed, but that’s democracy. I would like to thank all UTE delegates for standing together during this debate. Even though we didn’t win our point, we once again showed the solidarity of UTE representatives and that they take a stand when the situation calls for it. 

We can take pleasure in the fact that the delegates at the Convention finally adopted a formula that will enable regional PSAC conventions in the future to be fully funded by PSAC. It was a historic moment.

NATIONAL OFFICE STAFFING:

Following the recent selection process for the position of Finance Administration Officer, the selection committee, composed of the First National Vice-President, Brother Doug Gaetz, and of the Senior Labour Relations Officer, Shane O’Brien, identified the successful candidate in the bargaining unit, Liam Merrigan. 

As a result, on April 20, the Executive Committee approved the recommendation of the National Office to appoint him to this position.

MEETING WITH THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL REVENUE:

I contacted the Minister’s Office and had the opportunity to meet her on May 18^th. During a previous conversation, I had mentioned to her my intention to be transparent with her at all times. Therefore, I informed her of our intention to intensify our political pressure regarding two important issues:

• to ask the current Liberal government to allow the Agency to use the Corporate Administrative Systems (CAS) in replacement of the Phoenix system, which has proven to be a fiasco. We will ask the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, to give the CRA all the necessary human and financial resources so that the project can be finished as quickly as possible.

• The second will be to ask the Liberal government to re-establish the face to face counter services at the CRA. I reiterated to the Commissioner that we can work together to develop a model that will meet the expectations of Canadian taxpayers.

MEETINGS WITH CRA:

I had meetings over the phone and in person with the Commissioner of the Canada Revenue Agency, Bob Hamilton.

During my phone conversation, I shared with him all the concerns raised by the members working at the Toronto Centre Tax Services Office regarding the potential office move in 2021.

During my in-person conversation, I informed him of my conversation with the Minister of National Revenue, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, that we are moving forward with two campaigns through our Political Action Committee.

I have also had many discussions with other senior executives of the Agency, whether in person or on the phone.

Finally, on May 14, we renewed our commitment to the union-management philosophy by participating in a signing ceremony. The philosophy highlights the importance that we place on a harmonious, transparent union-management relationship and the practical application of an informal conflict resolution approach.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of the National Committee and the Working Group on the Union-Management Approach (UMA), especially the members representing UTE on the committee for their dedication and excellent work in the in-depth review of the UMA training program.

Our renewed commitment to the Union-Management Philosophy demonstrates our engagement to further develop our positive union-management relationship. This approach will help us all face challenges though constructive discussions in the coming years. I encourage all Union of Taxation Employee (UTE) Regional Vice-Presidents and Locals to renew their commitment to the union-management philosophy.

WEB/COMMUNICATIONS:

Our website is working well.  Updates are occurring in a timely fashion.  We now have a section of the website to display the items we have for sale.  Orders are still being placed as usual and members wishing to purchase items should see their local.  We have started work on the regional EO conference registration forms and the first one will be ready June 7.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:

All IT systems have been running well. Regular software maintenance of internal computers, servers and network was performed. We purchased new laptops for the RVPs that were scheduled for a replacement in 2018.

DONATIONS / SPONSORSHIPS:

Donations/Sponsorships
Dons/Commandites
As of May 22, 2018 / Au 22 mai 2018

NON-UTE UNION EVENTS:

Non-UTE Union Events
Événements syndicaux autres que ceux du SEI
As of May 22, 2018 / Au 22 mai 2018

GRIEVANCES:

Since our last Executive Council meeting, the National Office received thirty-two (32) grievances, other than classification.

During the same period, twenty-eight (28) grievances were presented. During this quarter, two (2) grievances were withdrawn, three (3) of these resulted in Memoranda of Settlements. In addition to grievances withdrawn or settled, there were also received seventeen (17) replies from CRA, with one (1) being allowed and the remaining 16 denied.

There are presently sixty-six (66) grievances in the National Office inventory which have not yet been presented at the Final Level dealing with a variety of issues.

1. Grievance held in abeyance at request of PSAC pending judicial review of WSIB appeal. Judicial review is scheduled for March 2018. Discussions have recently been held by PSAC President and the CRA Commissioner in an effort to settle this matter. No decision has been rendered to date.
2. Grievance was awaiting a decision from the National Health & Safety Policy Committee before proceeding with grievance. Decision recently received and grievance will proceed.
3. Grievances are being held in abeyance at the grievor’s request pending a CHRC complaint.
4. Two grievances are held in abeyance at the request of grievor and legal counsel pending the grievor’s criminal trial.
5. Waiting implementation of MOA.
6. Waiting decision from Health Canada with respect to medical retirement. Discussion are ongoing with grievor concerning possible withdrawal of grievances.
7. Waiting appointment of classification committee
8. These grievances were presented in late March 2018 and the agency has requested and we have approved and extension for reply. Decisions are expected shortly.

POLICY GRIEVANCE

There were no new policy grievances filed during this period.

CLASSIFICATION GRIEVANCES

There were no new classification grievances filed during this period.

INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY REVIEWS (ITPRs)

During this quarter, the National Office did not present any ITPRs. However, three (3) decisions were received for ITPR’s that were heard in previous quarters. One (1) ITPR was allowed. Two (2) ITPR’s were denied but were referred by our office on an application for judicial review by the federal court.

Two (2) new ITPR’s were received in the National Office this quarter. One ITPR was subsequently withdrawn by the grievor and closed. The other ITPR has yet to be scheduled for hearing. There are currently three (3) ITPRs outstanding where the National is required to provide representation

CRA POLICY GRIEVANCES

Currently there are no new CRA Policy Grievances in our inventory.  There is one (1) grievance that has been referred to the joint committee but to date has not been scheduled for hearing.  

PRESIDENT’S ITINERARY

DATE    ACTIVITY                                                  PLACE

FEBRUARY

19 – 23         PSAC Convention Committee (Constitution & Regulations)    Ottawa
23 – 24           Interregional Montreal - Quebec                                                   Gatineau
27                    Site visit of Victoria TSO* and AGM Victoria Local 20028        Victoria
28                    Site visit of Kelowna TSO* and AGM Kelowna Local 20003    Kelowna
28                    Media Interviews – 2 years of Phoenix                                        Kelowna

MARCH

1                      Site visit of Penticton TSO* and AGM Penticton Local 20026 Penticton|
3                      AGM Sudbury TC Local 00042                                                     Sudbury
5                      Site visit – Sudbury TC                                                                   Sudbury
12                    AGM Edmonton Local 30025                                                         Edmonton
13                    AGM Saskatoon Local 40023                                                        Saskatoon      
14                    AGM Regina Local 40022                                                              Regina
15                    AGM Winnipeg Local 50021                                                          Winnipeg
16                    Meetings with members – Winnipeg CCSC*****                        Winnipeg
20 – 21           Executive Council Meeting                                                            Ottawa
22 – 24           Presidents’ Conference                                                                  Ottawa
27                    AGM Quebec Local 10006                                                             Québec
28                    AGM Jonquière Local 10004                                                         Jonquière

APRIL

11                    AGM Ottawa HQ Local 70000                                                       Ottawa
12                    Conference Call with Marianne Hladun, REVP** Prairies
                        Region and Sheri Benson MP, NDP Saskatoon – West,
                        re: Closure of Counter Services at the Saskatoon TSO*          Ottawa
17                    AGM Toronto North Local 00048                                                  Toronto
18                    AGM Toronto East Local 00001                                                    Toronto
19                    Conference call with the Assistant Commissioner of HR***     Toronto
23 – 24           Meeting - Greater Toronto Region                                               Toronto
24                    Conference Call with CRA’s Commissioner                               Toronto
25                    Meeting with the leader of the NDP, Jagmeet Singh,              
                        and some members of the NDP from Quebec                           Ottawa
25                    AGM Outaouais Local 70035                                                         Gatineau
26                    Technical Meeting on the Phoenix system with HR***
                        and ITB**** Management                                                               Ottawa
28 – 30           PSAC Triennial Convention                                                           Toronto

MAY

1 – 4               PSAC Triennial Convention                                                           Toronto
11                    Meeting with the Minister of National Revenue                          Ottawa
14                    Signing Event – Union/Management Philosophy                      Ottawa
17                    Meeting with CRA’s Commissioner                                              Ottawa
18                    Meeting with the Assistant Commissioner of HR***                   Ottawa

Acronym

*= Tax Service Office
**= Regional Executive Vice-President
***= Human Resources
****= Information Technology

MEMBERSHIP:

Respectfully submitted,

Marc Brière
National President