COVID-19

As you are aware, since the CRA was delegated by the current Government the responsibility for administering the Emergency Benefits, the Union of Taxation Employees has collaborated closely with the employer in order to assist them in recruiting and encouraging our members occupying other positions to volunteer to perform duties related to the Emergency Benefits.

As the government has moved to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the definition of “critical” services has played a significant role in determining which operations must continue uninterrupted, and by extension which ones must continue being conducted from the workplace rather than home. 

Sisters and Brothers,

Yesterday, we issued a message communicating the Union of Taxation Employees’ (UTE’s) position with respect to the employer’s decision to the involuntary deployment of our members occupying Collections Contact Officer positions to perform the duties of Call Centre Agents. Since issuing that communiqué, we have received several queries from members as to why the UTE did not adopt a similar position with respect to our members in the Compliance Programs Branch (CPB).

In a recent meeting with PSAC and other federal public service bargaining agents, Treasury Board committed to ongoing consultation in the development of a vaccine requirement framework.

The employer has confirmed that no new policy will be implemented until after the current federal election.

Sisters, Brothers and Friends

The federal government today announced a new policy requiring mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 for federal public service employees.

PSAC has issued a response to this announcement. PSAC has also published a FAQ entitled "Your rights at work: Vaccinations and COVID-19".

In over a decade at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Kathy Ajram has never seen such a rapid and profound transformation in how her organization conducts its work.

We understand that these are extraordinary circumstances for everyone and that this is a difficult time for many of you and your families. We also recognize that many of you are performing critical functions while also supporting your colleagues as a health and safety committee member (HSC) or representative (HSR).

Although the employer has greatly reduced the number of employees who must work in CRA offices over the past few days, and continues to take steps to increase the number of telework arrangements given the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and safety of our members continues to be top of mind.