Dear Sisters, Brothers and Friends,
Late yesterday afternoon, we were informed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat had informed them that the federal government had decided to increase the mandatory presence in the office of its public service workers to four days a week as of July 6, 2026, while executives will be required to be in the office five days a week as of May 4, 2026.
A few minutes later, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) sent us the same news.
It should be noted that the CRA Commissioner did not even wait to speak with the unions representing the majority of the Agency's employees before simply announcing to all employees that the CRA would immediately comply with this new directive, even though the CRA is a separate agency from the Treasury Board and is only "encouraged to follow the same approach."
Despite our great frustration, this should unfortunately come as no surprise.
First, the federal government continues to lack the most basic respect for its employees. Again, he does not even consult with the bargaining agents and makes a public announcement immediately after only informing them. In addition, they have the nerve to tell the unions that they will consult them on the implementation of this new directive. What an irony given that the government is making this unilateral decision in the middle of a round of negotiations when we are without a contract!
In addition, this highly disrespectful announcement comes shortly after the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB) ruled, in a case involving PSAC members working at the Library of Parliament, that the employer cannot refuse to discuss the issue of telework as part of collective agreement negotiations.
On the other hand, the Canada Revenue Agency has, once again, grossly lacked judgment and respect for all of its employees and their unions, but also for its unrepresented executives. The Commissioner, despite the Agency's status as a separate employer, was quick to follow the lead of the Treasury Board. And to hell with the Canada Revenue Agency Act and the "independence" it affords! To hell with the consultation!
Since the beginning of this saga of the forced return to the office of federal public service workers, it has been clear that these decisions are based strictly on political and economic considerations to please lobbies of provincial and municipal elected officials and business people across the country. Too bad for Canadian taxpayers who will be paying billions of dollars for office buildings and equipment. Too bad if services to the population will suffer because there will be a lack of budget to keep tens of thousands of employees at work. Too bad if there is not enough space in several offices to properly accommodate employees. Too bad if there is a lack of parking spaces in city downtowns. Too bad for the citizens of the major cities who will see traffic jams get longer. So much for air pollution and environmental damage. So much for the well-being of employees and work-life balance. So much for the rules of the Labour Relations Act.
As long as the politicians and the business lobbies are happy, all is well for the federal government.
It is equally clear that the federal government and the Canada Revenue Agency have no interest in the well-being of their employees. The government is announcing this change at the same time as it is sending tens of thousands of work force adjustment notices to its employees. Although the CRA is currently in pause mode on this issue, uncertainty continues to hang over the heads of its employees and the thousands of term employees whose contracts will expire in the coming months do not know if they will still have a job by the end of 2026.
In the last round of bargaining, PSAC reached a telework agreement with Treasury Board and our bargaining team did the same with the CRA. Both the Treasury Board and the CRA flouted these agreements by unilaterally imposing forced in-person returns to the office.
As mentioned above, the most recent decision by the Treasury Board and the Canada Revenue Agency comes in the middle of a round of negotiations while we have been without a contract since November 1, 2025. When we are without a contract, the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act provides for a statutory freeze period, which means that the employer cannot change the terms and conditions of employment of its employees.
The PSAC informed us late yesterday that it is reviewing all of its options, and particularly the possibility of filing an Unfair Labour Practice Complaint (Statutory Freeze Complaint).
If you would like to read the message issued last night by PSAC regarding the federal government's announcement of the forced return to the office four days a week, here is the link: Government's 4-day in-office mandate an insult to workers
Dear Sisters, Brothers and Friends, it is time to mobilize. We are in the middle of a round of negotiations for a new contract. The negotiations are not going well and are not progressing. The FPSLREB has just issued a decision confirming that the employer cannot refuse to discuss the issue of telework as part of the collective agreement negotiations. The issue of telework is one of our priorities.
In the coming weeks, we will be issuing communications to keep you informed of mobilization activities to show the Canada Revenue Agency and the federal government that we are all in this together and we won't let them push us around. If the federal government thinks it is intimidating us with its dictatorial attitude, it is gravely mistaken. We will defend ourselves and we will fight.
In Solidarity,
Marc Brière
National President
Union of Taxation Employees