National Union-Management Committee (NUMC)

New National Union-Management Consultation Agreements

March 22, 2006

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recently signed new Union-Management consultation agreements (Terms of Reference) with the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE), a component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC).

The parties — Betty Bannon, National President of UTE, Michel Dorais, CRA Commissioner, and Réal Lamarche, recently appointed AFS Group Chair, PIPSC — recognize the need to keep pace with the many changes and demands of our ever-changing work environment.  When he first came to the CRA, Commissioner Michel Dorais stated that “One of my most memorable experiences included time spent at Labour Canada where I developed a great respect for Labour and their leaders.”  The Commissioner went on to mention that he had personally met with many of the local/regional union representatives when he traveled across the regions, and he planned to continue this practice. 

Réal Lamarche, the AFS Group Chair, PIPSC, has stated that, “I was pleased to see Senior Management take the NUMCC meetings seriously”, and while the Union recognizes that it is not easy to always have meaningful dialogue, both parties continue to work together to meet the challenge.

Betty Bannon, the UTE National President stated that “the NUMCC meetings are great forums to review the progress made since the last meeting, as well as bring closure to some of the issues.  We do not expect individual regional issues to be dealt with in this forum, as those issues would be addressed at the regional level.”  The Unions are encouraged to see the Commissioner in attendance at the NUMCCs, as well as the functional and regional Assistant Commissioners, as it provides them the opportunity to hear, first-hand, the concerns and issues of employees brought forward by the Union.  Equally important to the Unions is the ongoing dialogue with representatives of the Labour Relations Division because it provides a constructive avenue to raise issues and discuss concerns so that they may be resolved as quickly as possible through the various forums available. 

The Unions and Management have now strengthened their commitment to effective Union-Management relations by entering into the new consultation agreements (Terms of Reference) that are based on respect, understanding, and cooperation.  

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