MINUTES OF THE PRESIDENTS’ CONFERENCE
October 2 - 4, 2008
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2008
AFTERNOON SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 1:15 pm. Betty Bannon, President of the Union of Taxation Employees presided and opened the session with the announcement of the passing away during the night of Brother Al Rollins, Local President from Charlottetown. Brother Rollins was found in his room by the hotel attendant as he did not answer his wakeup call. The coroner pronounced the death and stated that it appeared to be a heart attack.
She informed the participants that the Atlantic Caucus was meeting with a grief counselor at this moment and that the Employee Assistance Program counselors were on sight in room 1719 provided by the hotel.
President Bannon went over the Harassment Policy and introduced the Complaint Administrators, Brothers Cosimo Crupi and Jean-Pierre Fraser and Sisters Patricia Payton and Lyson Paquette. She introduced the members of the staff from the National Office present in the room and then asked the Local Presidents to introduce themselves. The members of the Executive Council were then introduced.
President Bannon made a few announcements as follows:
- Some people have asked if they can collect hotel points and “stays” while staying at the Crowne Plaza for meetings. According to the hotel, if you are on the Master Bill, then you cannot collect points or “stays”. However, if you come off of the Master Bill and pay all accommodation costs, points and “stays” may be credited. She asked the participants to fill in the appropriate form that was provided in their envelope to advise of their choice.
- The UTE Olympics would be postponed until the March 2009 Presidents’ Conference.
- The UTE Calendars will be reprinted shortly and the locals are to advise Sister Duncan by email no later than Monday on how many copies they would like to receive.
- There will be workshops the next morning on Internal Union Conflict/In-fighting.
- There would be a 50/50 draw for the UTE Boobettes for breast cancer and the tickets are $2 each.
- A copy of the PSAC wheel of their Rules of Order will be distributed to each local and there are more for sale in the UTE Store for $1.00.
HOURS OF SESSION
M/S/C Sylvie Lahaie/Lorne Roslinski
That the hours of session be as follows:
Thursday: 1:15 to 5:00
Friday: 09:00 to 11:45; 1:15 to 5:00
Saturday: 09:00 to 11:45; 1:15 to 5:00 or the completion of business
MOTION CARRIED.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
(See attached agenda, delegates list, observers list and Items submitted by the Local Presidents)
M/S/C Norbert Wenzel/Brad Feraday
That the agenda be adopted as circulated with the following additions.
- External Competition Posters – Ottawa TSO
- Notice of Job Opportunity – Kitchener
- Supervisory Reference Check – Surrey
- Quotas – Laval
- Transfer of Payroll Ottawa to Winnipeg – Montréal
- PSAC Life Insurance $5000 – Montérégie
- Resolutions to PSAC Convention – Jonquière
- Insurance Coverage New Employees – Laval
- Group Interviews on Competitions – Ottawa TSO
- External CRA Board - Calgary
- Verbal Abuse by Clients with Call Centre Members - Montréal
- CRA Survey and Confidentiality - Calgary
MOTION CARRIED.
Points of privilege – Denis Brunette, Montérégie Local
He wished to share that the Québec Federation of Labour (FTQ) has asked their Québec members at their September 24th meeting to boycott Petro Canada as they are on lockout since September 2007.
Point of privilege - Luc Tailleur - Montréal Local
He asked permission to have a petition circulated and signed to pressure the government to sign the United Nation Declaration on Aboriginals’ rights.
Sylvie Lahaie – Shawinigan-South
She announced the retirement of Sister Edith Vivier, former President of the Shawinigan-South Local and informed that a retirement card will be circulating to be signed.
All the points of privilege were well taken by the President.
OPENING REMARKS
President Bannon commented that it was not exactly the conference that she had in mind when it first started due to Brother Rollins’ passing and that she would not have any opening remarks. However, she asked that the conference business be dealt with as much as possible as there were many items on the agenda. She informed the participants that the elections to the UTE Standing Committees will commence at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BUSINESS
President Bannon reported briefly on some of the business conducted by the Executive Council earlier during the week. (See Council Minutes of September 29, 2008).
A recommendation of adoption on the following resolutions were carried:
- Amendment to Regulation 9.1 (1)
- Amendment to Regulation 24 – U.T.E. Community Service Award
- E.O. Committee Recommendation :
Gesine Fuchs, Women’s Representative, Ottawa TSO
Marcelle Perron, alternate, Jonquière
That a second alternate be chosen for future selections
- Appointments on UTE Standing Committees
- Resolution for ICA on Funding was referred to the Finance Committee
- Appointment of Auditors for 2008
REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEES
President Bannon invited the members of the Communications Committee, Brothers Bob Campbell, Sabri Khayat and Barry Melanson and Sister Susan Duncan to come to the front to make their presentation on how to use the UTE webmail and how to maneuver around the website. The Chair of the Committee, Brother Campbell asked the locals and the Standing Committees to revise the UTE Questionnaire that was sent by email not long ago and to send comments, questions or new input by the end of the month as it will be reprinted and sent to the membership.
ITEMS PRESENTED BY THE LOCALS PRESIDENTS
1. Observe & Attest (Peterborough)
Local: Asked for a follow-up on this issue as they have received an email from their team leader asking them to think of an example where they have demonstrated the respective competency in the past couple of year and bring it to the interview.
President: Confirmed that CRA had sent out information on this issue. She had sent out notification by email last April 24, 2008 to all Locals, Alternates, Council Members and Labour Relation Officers.
S. Khayat Chair of the Staffing Committee said that CRA had sent out written confirmation of the directive on observe and attest that it is the responsibility of the team leader to observe and attest.
To the question from a local on what would happen when the team leader is not working in the same office as the employee and how can they observed and attested, the Committee has asked the employer, but they have not received an answer yet.
President: Read part of the minutes of the NUMC of June 2007 on the issue. (Minutes can be found on the Web site)
2. CPP & 60 – Continuation of CRA Employment (Peterborough)
Local: Referred to a fraud charge on the issue and asked the President if she was satisfed with the CRA Human Resources answer that they will provide the proper information to the members that at age 60 they can collect CPP or QPP and continue to work?
President: Answered that HR should not be giving any information on this and that they have to refer members to Service Canada as they are responsible to inform the members on what the rules are to collect CPP.
3. UTE Membership Parking Costs (what are members paying?) (Peterborough)
Local: Wanted to know what the locals were paying for parking fees?
President: Asked all the Locals to answer the Peterborough Local directly.
4. Union time – (Moncton)
This item was withdrawn by the submitting local.
The meeting recessed at 1700 hours.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2008
MORNING SESSION
The Conference was called to order at 09:00 a.m. with President Bannon presiding.
Workshops on Internal Union Conflict/In-Fighting
President Bannon gave some instructions on how the workshops on Internal Union Conflict/In-Fighting would be running. She asked that factors that may lead to internal union conflict be given as well as solutions and recommendations that may help to put an end to these fights. What can be done to reduce internal conflict and what actions or measures may be taken and by whom: the individuals, the Local Executives, the RVPs, UTE National. Finally, they were required to outline their best practics that keep them out of conflict, brought out of conflict, and what makes their local a healthy working local,
She went on to say that some locals were doing very well and that it would be beneficial to know how they achieved this and to share their experiences.
AFTERNOON SESSION
The facilitators reported back on the workshops. The information would be sent to the locals after they it has been compiled by the National Office.
President Bannon thanked everybody who participated in the workshops.
Point of privilege – Chris Aylward, Chair of the Health and Safety Committee
He advised that there was a form that has been passed on the tables asking the locals for their input on what they would like to see discussed as topics at the Regional Health and Safety Conferences. The forms must be returned by the next day.
The point of privilege was well taken by the President.
REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEES
President Bannon asked the Chair of the Honours and Awards Committee, Brother Terry Dupuis to come to the front. Brother Dupuis introduced the members of the Committee, Brother Denis Lalancette and Sister Sarah Redd who was absent and reminded the participants of the importance of thanking the members for what they do for their union. He also urged them to advertize in their locals the UTE Scholarship Award and the International Children Awareness. He informed them that October 15th was the deadline to send applications to go to Africa with Captain Ed Smith from ICA at the beginning of next year and that December 15th was the deadline for the Humanitarian Award Application. Brother Dupuis invited Brother Nick Stein, RVP from the Southwestern Ontario Region to present a 30 year service pin to sister Cathy Tarves from the Hamilton Local.
5. End State Staffing Pilot (Surrey)
Local: Wanted an update on where all locals were on this issue and what was in our future concerning this issue. There was a rumor circulating that they will go nationally with this pilot.
The Peterborough read from an email the following information:
"The goal is to have the 80% of the non MG populate their profile with 3 or more competencies by March 2009. This will mean that once the End State goal is reached only those employees who have populated their portfolios with the base competencies would be invited to participate in upcoming selection processes".
Cassidy: Technical Advisor on the Staffing Committee commented that official End State pilots were going on in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Surrey, Windsor and ITB/HQ. She explained that UTE’s position should be that it is time to move on. We prefer that they use End State instead of the process they are using right now. The employer did not contact the union before expanding this pilot to Saskatoon nor ITB or Surrey. She concluded by saying that this issue was not in the Staffing Committee minutes because it is a pilot project going on in Winnipeg and that until they report back to UTE there was nothing to inform the Locals on.
Winnipeg
TSO: Commented that this situation has affected the morale of their members tremendously from terms to casual employees, team leaders and even managers who have concerns on how they will be able to run their programs. How would they rehire people if they don’t have their competencies? Local members have commented their concerns on this issue saying that they have already qualified through a competition process and they have been working for many years already. Why should they have to go through this process again? Another concern was the waiting period of 180 days for retest of term employees.
Bergeron: RVP for the Prairie Region stated that he was told at a recent union management meeting that they are planning to implement this pilot by the end of March 2009. He stated also that since 1999 the employer was doing whatever it wanted with staffing positions and that it was time to get the union back in the staffing process.
Other locals commented on the issue.
6. Part Time Members Coffee Break(s) due to changes in the Collective Agreement -Article 62.15 (Surrey)
Local: Stated that part-time workers who work a full day are not getting two (2) coffee breaks due to the changes in the Collective Agreement.
Edmonton and Montreal Call Centres are experiencing similar issues.
Lalancette: Explained that this bargaining demand was put forward because in certain places there were no coffee breaks. We will have to tell the employer that the intention of the demand was not to take away the coffee breaks but to permit employees to take a break after 4 hours of work.
Bannon: Commented that she would be meeting with Lysanne Gauvin on October 14th and she will ask her about this issue.
REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEES
President Bannon asked the Chair of the Political Action Committee to come to the front and do their Powerpoint presentation on Issues and Questions for Candidates in the upcoming federal elections. Before doing so, Brother Stein introduced the Co-chair of the Committee, Brother Cosimo Crupi and the Presidents’ Representative Sister Annette Melanson.
Brother Stein read the resolution 312 that was passed at our Convention last July.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT all Locals be mandated at their upcoming AGMs to include an agenda item to discuss with their members whether UTE endorses a particular political party or individual candidate(s); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT all Locals send a written report of these discussions from their AGMs to the PAC, through their RVPs, no later than thirty (30) days following the individual AGMs.
Brother Stein informed the participants that speaking notes were provided in their envelope, to be used at their AGM meeting to inform the membership.
President Bannon advised the participants that last week she had sent a letter to all political parties with a set of questions to invite them to come and speak to this conference. As of yet, we have not receive a response.
7. Committee Vs Pilot Project (Jonquière)
Local: Asked that the Standing Committees make available any news they may have as soon as they become available without waiting for the official minutes to go out. They were referring primarily to the Technological Change Committee.
President: Answered, that usually when it is something rather urgent, a paragraph or two are written, translated and sent out to all Locals. We would make sure that the Committee’ chairs keeps the locals informed as soon as the information is made available.
8. Compensation Issue – Grievance Campaign (Jonquière)
Local: Wanted to know if a grievance campaign should be done to try to solve the long list of problems?
President: Agreed that this could be done. She explained that she has just sent out to the locals the new Compensation Problem Resolution Action Plan that now involves the Locals, the RVPs and then herself instead of just herself as it was the case previously. The CRA and UTE have agreed to apply this action plan to the issues.
She asked each local to keep track of the issues for one (1) month and to send them to her with a copy to their RVP to give her some ammunition to provide the Commissioner.
On the subject of delays in receipt of maternity/parental allowance, she read the following email that was sent on September 17 from B. Lehman’s office.
SUBJECT: Delays in receipt of maternity / parental allowance
Due to the Public Works and Government Services Canada payroll schedule, employees on maternity or parental leave will experience a delay in receiving their allowance payments at calendar year end and in any other month where a statutory holiday is scheduled on a Friday.
The following statutory holidays may influence the receipt of this allowance:
- Good Friday (Easter)
- Canada Day
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas / New Years (Calendar Year End)
The Compensation Client Service Centre will make every reasonable effort to minimize the delay; however, the situation is unavoidable. The Compensation Client Service Centers are notifying all affected employees. A more detailed notification explaining the delay at calendar year end is planned for the month of October.
Some locals commented on the problems they encountered and suggested that we get educated on compensation in order to be able to help our members. It was also mentioned that information on compensation could be found on Infozone.
9. Conflict Resolution Policy – Training from UTE (Rouyn-Noranda)
Local: Mentioned that they were receiving training from the Employer. Would they be receiving training from UTE concerning the role of the union representative and deadlines on formal recourse? Has the role of the union representative changed?
President: Reiterated that the Conflict Resolution Policy provides in writing what UTE always did. We have always tried to solve problems informally first because the grievance process is very formal and takes lots of time and energy from parties. The policy comes from a UMI National Steering Committee to which Brother Campbell and Khayat sat on with CRA representatives. The policy was put in writing because UTE did not support the Employer‘s Alternate Dispute Resolution Process that they developed without UTE. The Employer, through the UMI Steering Committee, developed a policy that UTE could live with that outlines dealing with conflicts or issues or problems in an informal manner. Representatives’ roles have not changed from a year ago to today. There is nothing new in the policy and no training is involved. With respect to the timeframe stated in Article 18.01A of the Collective Agreement, it can be dealt with by both UTE Representatives and the UMI National Steering Committee.
Outaouais
Local: Now that we have signed the policy letter, management is telling union representatives that they should not have conflict with anybody.
Campbell: The employer is abusing the policy in doing so. Brother Khayat and I will bring this issue to the UMI National Steering Committee.
Local: We have received from the employer an email informing us that training will be provided. Does UTE know what king of training will be given? We are concerned that the training would be to their advantage.
Campbell: If there is training planned, it should be for new employees. He asked that any emails on training be provided to him and Brother Khayat to be looked at the next Monday.
Comments were made by a few locals, and it seems that the approach in rolling out the policy and the meeting behind it were different from one office to another.
The meeting recessed at 1700 hours.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2008
MORNING SESSION
The Conference was called to order at 09:00 a.m. with President Bannon presiding.
ELECTIONS TO STANDING COMMITTEES
Bargaining Committee
Dave Miller was acclaimed as TSO Representative to the Bargaining Committee.
Dawn Hardy was acclaimed as TC Representative to the Bargaining Committee.
By-Laws Committee
Nominees: Des Scott and Debbie St. Germain
Debbie St. Germain was elected to the By-Laws Committee
Staffing Committee
Nominees: Marc Brière and Kristine Pinkney
Marc Brière was elected as TSO Representative to the Staffing Committee.
Madonna Gardiner was acclaimed as TC Representative to the Staffing Committee.
Technological Change Committee
Brian Oldford was acclaimed as the Representative to the Technological Change Committee.
Health and Safety Committee
Norbert Wenzel was acclaimed to the Health and Safety Committee.
Equal Opportunities Committee
Cindy Little was acclaimed to the Equal Opportunities Committee.
Employee Assistance Program Committee
Nominees: Jean-Pierre Bonin and Corina Gladney
Corina Gladney was elected to the Employee Assistance Program Committee.
Finance Committee
Nominees : Marie-Claude Lapointe and Esther Burt
Esther Burt was elected to the Finance Committee.
Honours & Awards Committee
Nominees: Sarah Redd and Dianne Rayner
Dianne Rayner was elected to the Honours & Awards Committee
Workforce Adjustment Committee
Nominees: Sylvie Lahaie and John Kosiba
Sylvie Lahaie was elected as TC Representative to the Workforce Adjustment Committee.
Adam Jackson was acclaimed TSO Representative to the Workforce Adjustment Committee
Harassment Committee
Nominees: Christine McLennan and Patricia Payton
Christine McLennan was elected to the Harassment Committee.
Communications Committee
Barry Melanson was acclaimed to the Communications Committee
Political Action Committee
Nominees: Brad Feraday and Annette Melanson
Brad Feraday was elected to the Political Action Committee.
M/S/C Denis Brunette/David Quist
That the ballots be destroyed.
MOTION CARRIED.
10. Educational Standards (Rouyn-Noranda)
Local : Asked if in the eventuality that the Agency uses new standards for classification, has UTE thought of a strategy to help our members to meet those standards that could be required?
President: Asked Brother Khayat to answer the question.
Khayat: The Committee is advised on a regular basis on this issue. There was a survey that went out to Revenue Collections Branch to get some input on the Educational Standards to which we should have some answers at the next meeting with the employer. The Committee will address the concerns of the local and will follow this issue very closely.
Locals have expressed their concerns about the possibility of having new Educational Standards. Would training be available on working hours for these employees to apply on their job? Would the Employer be given training on their time?
President: Addressed that part of the changes in the Educational Standards came about following grievances from the ROCCO members that wanted some Educational Standards to be required for these positions. The employer allowed the grievances in part saying that they would look into the education requirements for the position. They then changed some of the education requirements to some of the jobs. UTE was aware of the situation because of the grievances that were filed. The Staffing Committee met with the employer to discuss this issue and to give their input.
It was also mentioned that the employer does pay for French training at night and that it is offered in lot of places. To have training during the day, we would need a clause in the Collective Agreement.
11. Automated External Defibrillators (AED) (Windsor)
Local: We have now found that Industry Canada a Treasury Board Department, has the AEDs in the workplace and has sent us the format they used to convince their employer that the liability issue can be overcome. They will also send literature that suggests that the new AEDs were much less expensive and foolproof.
The aim is to have the CRA Policy Committee with the above new information, re-examine its position on AEDs and to get input from the Presidents.
The Health and Safety Committee will be commenting on this issue later during the day.
President: This issue will be on the next agenda of the OSH Policy Committee.
12. EAP Evaluation Report (Calgary)
This item was withdrawn from the submitting local.
13. Creation of Collections Teams within the Client Services Call Centers (Calgary)
Local: Commented that the teams are funded by Revenue Collections and staffed by Call Center Employees to retain and perpetuate term hiring at Call Centers during slow periods. The funding is supposedly "under spent" budget money resulting from attrition that is expected to occur before year end and would normally result in "overtime".
The Local concern was that this could be a potential erosion of fulltime indeterminate jobs in Revenue Collections to term stop gap positions at the Call Centers.
REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEES
The President invited the Chair of the Health and Safety Committee, Brother Chris Aylward to come up to the front and report. Brother Aylward introduced the members of the Committee, Brothers Norbert Wenzel, Doug Gaetz and Pierre Mulvihill.
Phase II of the Job Hazard Analysis has been completed and the report was provided to the OSH National Policy Committee on September 5th. This report will not be distributed as it is incomplete. The final Phase III report will be ready at the end of November which will include the recommendations.
There is a new NJC directive on Health and Safety that says that either party of a committee can request information while the Canada Labour Code states that the committee can request information. We have asked the employer to comply with what we were guaranteed when they became an Agency that either party of the committee can request information. We need an agreement to include this wording in the CRA Health and Safety Policy and in the Local Health and Safety Terms of Reference.
The issue of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) is on the agenda of the November 27th meeting. We will ask the employer to revisit UTE’s position on the use of AED. The Committee Chair asked locals to please send any information that would support our position.
The Committee asked for local input and suggestions to help planning the Health and Safety Regional Conferences. Brother Aylward answered a few questions from the participants.
Point of privilege – D. Gaetz, RVP for the Atlantic Region
Brother Doug Gaetz thanked everyone for their support in the passing of Brother Al Rollins.
The point was well received by the president.
14. Follow-up on Classification Grievances (deadline) (Shawinigan-South)
Local: Wanted to know what were the deadlines for classification grievances following the ACS-SP? Would locals be advised on these grievances sooner than for any other classification grievances that have not been dealt with after many years?
President: We are in discussion with the PSAC Representation Branch to enter into an agreement where we will do the representation on the grievances. If this goes forward we are hoping that it would speed up the process.
15. UTE Questionnaire (Resolution 308) (Peterborough)
Local: Wanted confirmation that the end of October was the deadline to send information to the National Office and that UTE Standing Committees were also invited to provide input.
President: She confirmed this information.
16. Job Hazard Analysis Study (Peterborough)
This item was withdrawn by the local.
17. Convention(s) Resource Material on UTE Web (Peterborough)
Local: The intent of this was to request/discuss the ability and worthiness of convention material (last three conventions at minimum) being on the web as 'resource' material. This would include the final convention report as well as the convention resolutions submitted to convention.
President: The 2008 Convention Report will be posted on the web with the resolutions. We will discuss making available 2002 and 2005 on the web as we may not have them on file.
She noted that the locals as well should be keeping a copy of what they received at Convention.
18. Employee Parking (Barrie)
Local: Commented that they will be moving in the next 2 years to a new facility not owned by CRA and that they have been advised that there will be absolutely no parking for employees. There is insufficient parking in the downtown of Barrie where they will be located and at least half of the employee live out of town (with no transit into Barrie) and have no means of getting into the office other than driving their car.
President: Suggested that they inform their RVP and that they also have their Health and Safety Committee look into the matter.
19. Follow-up on Call Centre Ad Hoc Committee (Edmonton)
Local: Asked the chair of the Committee to comment on the timelines.
Campbell: Chair of the Committee answered that he was hoping to meet with management in November.
20. Threatened Trusteeship in Lethbridge (Edmonton)
Local: Wanted to know if what they heard was thru that the Lethbridge Local was going to be put into trusteeship.
President: Confirmed that this was not true.
21. National Staffing Seminar Selections (Edmonton)
Local: Asked clarification on how selections were made and suggested improvements.
President: Explained the process saying that a memorandum is sent to all Locals asking them to submit the names to a maximum of 25 participants for the country to their RVP. The RVP is to look at the list and rank the names received. RVPs are to ensure that they have not taken the course before, that they are active in their union position and that they would use this tool to represent members with staffing issues or grievances. She confirmed that sometimes the list was altered or changed to respect certain rules/standards and that we try to balance the selection throughout the country.
22. UTE Review of Employer Policies (Peterborough)
Local: Put forward a resolution.
David Quist/Norbert Wenzel
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the National President direct a review of Employer policies by the related Standing Committees or by Ad Hoc Committees as the President deems suitable and to provide the findings and UTE's position to the Policy Papers, to Executive Council for approval and posting on the UTE Website within a reasonable period of time.
President: Commented that each committee reviews policies as needed. We have just finish reviewing 17 Health and Safety Policies that came along when CRA moved to an Agency. The Conflict Resolution Policy was jointly developed with UTE sitting at the table. We also had input in the Harassment Policy.
This would be a huge undertaking due to the many policies the employer has.
MOTION DEFEATED.
23. Follow-up to the 2003 CCRA/PSAC Study ‘Illness related benefits’ (Peterborough - 00008)
Local: Suggested to have dialogue reopen with the employer to see if they would be receptive to further discuss this issue with the intent to create bargaining demands and try to solve some of these problems. Comments were made also to the fact that there would be many retirees in the next couple of years and that a huge bank of sick leave would be going back to the employer.
Locals commented that we should look at having a joint return to work policy and also that there should be a bargaining demand at the next round of bargaining.
24. UTE Code of Conduct, Values & Ethics (Peterborough)
This item was withdrawn by the submitting Local as there was a resolution that went to Convention on this issue and that it had been dealt with by the Executive Council.
25. UTE National Hardship Fund Details (Edmonton)
This item was withdrawn by the submitting local.
26. Union Representatives being Conflict Resolution Representatives (Edmonton)
This item was withdrawn by the submitting local.
27. Internal Affairs and Fraud Prevention Division (Kingston)
Local: Solicited input on how to prepare locals for dealings with IAD. Given their recent experience, they suggested that either a fact sheet or handbook be prepared for locals who may not have been through this part of an investigation process.
President: Chair of Communications could publish an article for the next newsletter on this issue. We could also add a module of this topic in our grievance course and have a pamphlet prepared. She also made reference to the Schneidman decision that tells us that this is not an administrative procedure but in fact it is a disciplinary hearing and that we should act as representatives accordingly.
Locals commented their views on the issue.
28. 5 Year Roll-Over of Terms/Sunset Funding (Sydney)
Local: Needed clarification on the fact that they have an agreement that if a term employee has 5 years of continuous employment, they would automatically be rolled into an indeterminate position. However, there is a clause that if a term is hired for projects using sunset budget dollars, their employment would not count as part of the 5 year continuous employment. What constitutes "Sunset Dollars/Funding"? Are they coming from CRA or the Treasury Board?
President: Her understanding of Sunset Dollars is money allocated for a specific pilot project. She added that she would ask the Human Resources what was their definition of Sunset Funding.
Abbott: RVP for the Pacific Region and member of the sub-committee that worked on the direct negotiations of the term roll-over explained that the "external funding" for specific pilot projects comes from the Treasury Board Policy and that the time worked on a project does not count in the 5 years while the CRA’s pilot projects are incorporated in their policy and that "the time worked counts" if the project becomes permanent employment. She added that these facts were not prevalent to the Taxation Centres, but also to the Tax Service Offices.
Locals commented that terms have been tested for bilingual imperative linguistic abilities before starting their employment. When comes time to roll them over after 5 years to a permanent position, it has been a little over 5 years since they have been tested and the employer says that their test is expired and that the have to be retested.
President: She will be looking into this issue with CRA.
29. Staffing (Saskatoon)
This item was withdrawn by submitting Local.
30. New Employees (Saskatoon)
Local: Asked if there was a standard process to follow for orientation of new employees or employees who move from one section to another or one office to another?
President: The National Office provides a Powerpoint presentation. The employer does have an orientation and security session for groups of a few employees. They are also working on a welcome to CRA letter. In situations when one new employee starts, the orientation would have to be taken care at the local level.
A few examples were given on the process of orienting new employees. Some locals have joint union/management sessions involving EAP, Internal Affairs, Human Resources, etc.
31. PSAC Dues Error (Summerside)
Local: Commented as a point of information that they received notification of dues that were refunded in error. Locals were tasked to contact the members and deal with this huge mess. This situation cost time and money, and they feel that future situations such as this one could be dealt with differently. They added that there were unallocated members as well on the list to be checked. They did not know what would happen if this was their last pay or if they don’t return to work for CRA.
President: She had received information and sent it to the concerned locals asking them to try to find the members. She presumed that CRA did the same by way of a letter. She will have to check with the PSAC to know what would happen if this was their last pay or if they don’t return to work for CRA.
32. CRA Action Plan (Summerside)
Local: Explained that this was becoming a trend with their indeterminate employees. They need training and feel that UTE may wish to educate the locals on what to do when dealing with this issue. The Action Plan is being administered inconsistently with a purpose to demote members.
Locals commented that the Action Plan was to help the employees to ameliorate their work, not to demote them or terminate their employment. It should be a joint plan between the team leader and the employee. The Policy on Action Plan clearly states that the team leader must take positive action as soon as they detect a problem with the employee’s performance.
President: Acknowledged that the Action Plan has been around for years. The employer should explain to the employees what the Action Plan is about.
33. Compensation (Summerside)
This item was withdrawn by the submitting local.
34. Student Bridging – CRA Policy vs PSAC Policy Paper (Summerside)
Local: Wanted to know the opinion of UTE on the fact that it appears that because CRA has a Student Bridging Policy that the principles of the PSAC Policy Paper do not apply to us.
President: Asked the Local to bring this situation to their RVP’s attention.
Locals commented on the subject that students are not unionized, are paid lower salaries while doing the same work as a regular employee. CRA is using the mechanism of student integration as being cheap labour.
35. Salary Protection (Summerside)
Local: Commented that ACS-SP conversion has affected their members who are salary protected. They asked clarification on salary protection for DACON workers.
President: Replied that this situation was not a new one and that they were working with the employer to find out what rate they were at for everybody that was at the top of the old level.
The Shawinigan-South Local commented that were approximately 280 DACON members that will lose between $800 to $900 because they took a position, only for a few months.
Lalancette: Chair of the Bargaining Committee explained that the Committee would be working closely with the PSAC on this issue to bring this to the table when they negotiate with Treasury Board.
36. External Competition Posters (Ottawa TSO)
Local: Commented that some of their terms members did not apply last August on a competition as Administrative Clerk because they thought this was a position for the Audit Division. As there is no Administrative Clerk in Audit, the Local wanted to bring this to everybody’s attention as well to the Staffing Committee to be diligent in looking to what is written on the poster and ensuring that what is written reflects the duties of the job for which they are applying.
President: Responded that local staffing issues should be dealt with the Director, regional ones should be raised with the Assistant Commissioner by their RVP and that national issues should be looked at by the Staffing Committee.
37. Notice of Job Opportunity (Kitchener)
Local: Informed that they had a position posted as a SP-05 Collections Officer that said partial results from the selection process may be used for acting appointments if need be. Some of the people that are in this competition are still going through competencies. The employer has now appointed 3 people in acting positions that already have the competencies. One of the placement criteria for the job is breadth and depth experience. Numbers of people in the local were commenting why bother finishing the completion.
38. Supervisory Reference Check (Surrey)
Local: The employer would have to be more consistent when choosing from their 5 categories. i.e.: example: unsatisfactory, satisfactory, good, very good, and excellent or does not meets, mostly meets, meets etc. there are so many grey areas that it is anybody’s guess as to where you really are on the scale.
A solution could be that the Supervisory Reference Check should be rolled in to their performance review that way they would have the opportunity to grieve the decision.
Other Locals mentioned that the employer is using both the Performance Evaluation and the Supervisory Reference Check. The last one is used to shorten the list of potential candidates.
President: With respect to categories, it has been dealt with before through the Performance Appraisal.
39. Productivity Pro-Ratios (Laval)
Local: Reminded the locals to be very careful with the evaluations and mostly to their written comments. They were informed just before the Conference that in Revenue Collections there were team leaders who were trying to include productivity ratios in the performance review.
40. Transfer of Payroll Ottawa to Winnipeg (Montreal)
Local: They heard a rumour to the effect that the payroll workload of the Call Centre was moving from Ottawa to Winnipeg.
President: Answered that the rumour was false and clarified that when a Compensation Centre gets overloaded they would be able to instantly transfer over some of the calls to the other Centre in order to avoid a backlog.
The UTE Boobettes collected the amount of $202.05 over the week. Thank you for your generosity.
CLOSING REMARKS
President Bannon commented on the week that had just passed by saying that we had lost a Brother and that this week showed us what is important. She asked the participants to remember what was discussed in the workshops on infighting and conflict in the locals and to bring the results back with them to the locals.
She mentioned that she would be going to the funeral of Brother Al next week together with Shane O’Brien, Brother Campbell and Sister Cassidy formers RVPs for the Atlantic Region.
She invited the participants in singing the Solidarity Forever song.
The meeting adjourned at: 5:00 p.m.
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