CCRA/UTE Local Joint Workforce Adjustment (WFA) Committee Terms of Refererence

1. INTRODUCTION

The Canada Revenue Agency (the CRA or the Employer) and the Public Service Alliance of Canada – Union of Taxation Employees (PSAC-UTE or the Union) agree to establish a National Workforce Adjustment (WFA) Committee (the Committee). 

In addition, regional and local WFA Committees will be established and will be consistent with these terms of reference.

2. MANDATE

The primary focus of the Committee will be to ensure that meaningful consultation takes place at the national level, through meetings, to discuss human resources issues related to the management of WFA situations and to explore the most efficient available workforce plans options. 

The Committee is a consultative forum that allows for discussions on various workforce planning strategies during WFA situations. 

In addition, the committee members will:

• Consult on approaches to facilitate the placement of employees;
• Receive, periodically, a list of all affected, surplus and laid-off employees, which will include their status; and,
• Provide direction and advice to the regional and local WFA Committees.

3. meetings

Meetings will take place on a quarterly basis during periods with WFA situations. Ad hoc meetings will take place as needed. The specific time and dates of the meetings will be mutually agreed upon.

4. COMPOSITION

The Committee shall be composed of the following members:

Co-chairs:

• The Director General, Strategic Business Integration Directorate (SBID), Human Resources Branch (HRB)
• PSAC-UTE representative

Four (4) Employer representatives*, in addition to the co-chair 

Four (4) PSAC-UTE representatives*, in addition to the co-chair

* When a committee member can no longer continue participating on the Committee, a replacement shall be identified by the respective co-chair. 

Confidentiality

All members of the Committee must commit to respecting the confidentiality of information shared during the Committee meetings.

5. ALTERNATES

Each Committee member should select an alternate member to serve as their replacement when unable to attend a meeting. The change should be communicated as early as possible and approved by the co-chairs.

6. Additional Participants

Additional persons may be invited as technical or special advisors, or subject matter experts, provided the co-chairs of the Committee agree in advance due to confidentiality.

7. Secretariat

The following secretarial services will be provided by the Union-Management Relations (UMR) team and the Human Resources Impact Analysis (HRIA) team:

• Scheduling meetings (UMR team);
• Sending notices of upcoming meetings (UMR team);
• Sending agenda prior to the scheduled meetings (UMR team);
• Crafting the Record of Discussion (UMR team and HRIA team);
• Endeavoring to have the Record of Discussion prepared within 30 days (UMR team and HRIA team);
• Sharing the Record of Discussion with all members for review, input, and approval (UMR team and HRIA team);
• Coordinating any commitments made during the meetings (UMR team);
• Ensuring the approved Record of Discussion is signed by both co-chairs (UMR team and HRIA team); and
• Sharing a fully signed copy of the Record of Discussion with each member (UMR team).

8. LEAVE AND TRAVEL TIME FOR COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Should an in-person meeting be required, participants will be granted leave with pay for travel time and attendance at these meetings. Travel costs are the responsibility of each committee member's home organization.

9. LANGUAGE

Meetings will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Official Languages Act. All members will be encouraged to communicate in the official language of their choice. The co-chairs shall ensure that all members of the Committee are provided with a sufficient explanation of the questions asked or issues raised, should they not have an adequate comprehension of the language used to ask the question or raise the issue.

10. MONITORING AND AMENDMENTS

At the request of either party, the co-chairs of the Committee may meet to assess the effectiveness of these Terms of Reference or may request their review and/or their amendment.