FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February
16, 2007
Union of Taxation Employees baffled
by minister’s callousness
Ottawa- Revenue Minister Carol Skelton had claimed that the cancellation
of the GST Visitor Rebate program would not hurt jobs at the Summerside
Tax Centre. Lay-off notices were received by 131 workers at the centre
on January 17th, all people who work in the rebate program.
Today, in what appears to be political damage control, the minister is
meeting with the affected Union of Taxation Employee members, but will
not allow union representatives to attend the meeting. Dawn Hardy,
president of the Summerside UTE local, had challenged Skelton to defend
the job cuts in Summerside in front of tax centre workers, but did not
expect the union to be excluded from the meeting.
The union is baffled that the minister would go against contractual obligations
that dictate that the union must be present at any WFA (work force adjustment)
meeting with affected members. The UTE’s working relationship with
CRA is such that management would never meet with union members on a WFA
issue without including the union. To have the minister pull such
a stunt is unbelievable, and damages the long standing union management
achievements.
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For information: Bob Campbell
First National Vice-President
Union of Taxation Employees
Office (613) 235-6704
Cell (613) 868-5947
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