RE: CRA WFA Approach

In August 2006 the CRA issued documents dealing with the Agency’s approach to the Workforce Adjustment Appendix (WFAA) of your current collective agreement.

This was announced via an e-mail to all CRA employees. The approach documents are intended as a tool for management and human resources. There was no intent for these to be issued to employees. However, they have worked their way to CRA employees and UTE members.

Your UTE National WFA Committee was consulted on these but the two (2) most important issues to UTE were ignored. These are:  the use of Permanent Lateral Moves (PLMs) versus Reasonable Job Offers (RJOs) and the CRA’s decision to ignore the Public Service Labour Relations Board (PSLRB) decision dealing with equivalency (4% vs 6%).

The reason your Union supports RJOs versus PLMs are:

• RJOs are a collective agreement right, PLMs do not form part of your collective agreement
• When an affected/surplus employee receives a RJO, there is no recourse under the CRA Staffing Policy. PLMs are subject to recourse in the Policy.
• Under your collective agreement employees have the right for up to two (2) years of retraining and this training plan must be in writing and agreed upon by both the employee and management.  PLMs have no guarantee of a training plan that must be signed off in writing by both parties.

While the employer has not clearly stated why they decided to issue this approach, it must be made clear, this is the CRA’s interpretation of how to interpret and apply the provisions of our collective agreement, nothing more, nothing less.

It is our opinion the employer decided to do this for the following reasons:

• there are over 1000 affected employees
• some employees have been in affected status for several years
• not all affected employees will be offered jobs, thus, they anticipate lay-offs

Many members are asking when they will be getting a buyout or waiver of pension penalties. To be considered for the above, the CRA must be ready to lay-off employees in your geographic location and we expect lay-offs to be limited. UTE will ensure that if the CRA lays-off any Union member, the terms and conditions of your collective agreement will be abided by.

If the membership has any questions, concerns or comments on the CRA WFA guidelines/approach, they should contact their local UTE representative.

In solidarity,

Nick Stein
Chair
UTE National WFA Committee