PSAC/UTE Bargaining Team spends week in negotiations with CRA.

This past week (February 25th through 28st) our Bargaining Team spent four days in talks with CRA.  On Monday (the 25th) Treasury Board President Tony Clement announced $98 million in reduced spending for CRA in the coming fiscal year.  Our team again denounced these cuts in negotiations and indicated to the Agency that such announcements only further our resolve to achieve language in our collective agreement that provides improved protection against layoff as well as protections against contracting out.  We also told management that we want an explanation as to what the employer's plans are in the context of these reductions.  The employer committed to providing a response in our next session. 

The parties also had considerable discussion about a number of other issues, including the need to ensure that all union members have access to a copy of our collective agreement, as well as increased rights and protections for term workers.  The parties also discussed our team's proposals concerning improved scheduling flexibility for employees and seniority rights.  

Military Service Recognition

The parties signed a Memorandum of Agreement on Monday to recognize service in the Canadian Forces and Canadian Forces Reserve for the purposes of vacation entitlement. Recognition of this service is effective April 1, 2012 on a going forward basis only. This means that it affects vacation entitlement in the 2012-2013 vacation year and onward, and takes effect immediately. It has no impact on vacation entitlement prior to April 1, 2012. 

We are scheduled to meet again in negotiations next month.  We'll be sure to update as things progress.

Our initial proposals and those of management are posted on both the UTE and PSAC websites.  If you have any questions or concerns, speak with your union representative, and go to ute-sei.org or psac.com to sign up for more updates.

PSAC/UTE members at Canada Revenue Agency

United for a Fair Contract