Town hall and increased mandatory in-office presence: We heard you

June 5, 2026

Sisters, Brothers and Friends,

Since the announcement of the increase in the number of mandatory in-office days, members’ frustration has been clear, legitimate and growing. The town hall held by CRA senior management yesterday, June 4, was supposed to address your concerns. However, several members wrote to tell us that they left extremely frustrated, given the vague answers or lack of answers provided, including by the Minister and the Commissioner of the Agency.

We heard you. And we share your frustration.

From the beginning, UTE has strongly denounced this unilateral, unjustified decision, which is disconnected from the reality of members. The employer has not demonstrated that increasing in-office presence will improve productivity, collaboration or the quality of services provided to the public. In addition, we once again denounce the federal government’s shameful waste of public funds, amounting to billions of dollars, particularly through costly office leases and the purchase of furniture to support an increase in in-person presence, without any clear justification of the benefits.

We also know that several members are asking what the union is doing in this situation. The answer is clear: UTE is acting on all fronts. We are putting pressure on CRA senior management, intervening at the political level, bringing this issue forward publicly through the media and, together with PSAC, continuing to push your priorities at the bargaining table.

Unfortunately, the employer remains completely closed and continues to refuse to discuss telework, as well as other important issues such as work-life balance, job protection and protections related to artificial intelligence.

Following the fiasco that this town hall turned out to be, we are calling on the CRA Commissioner to review the decision to increase in-office presence to four days per week and to put it on pause indefinitely.

But union leaders cannot apply pressure alone. The union is you. Our strength comes from you, the members. The more of you who make your voices heard, the harder it becomes for the CRA and the federal government to ignore our collective pressure.

Help us get the message across

On Thursday, June 11, UTE’s Executive Council will meet with Agency senior management as part of a meeting of the National Union-Management Consultation Committee, attended by the Commissioner and all the CRA’s key Assistant Commissioners. We will once again convey your frustrations to them verbally, directly and clearly.

Until then, we are asking you to make your voice heard.

Write to the CRA Commissioner and the Minister of National Revenue to express your dissatisfaction with the increase in the number of mandatory in-office days.

Please use your personal email address, not your CRA email address. Your message must remain respectful, but it can be clear, firm and direct.

You may use the template below to write to the CRA Commissioner and the Minister of National Revenue. We invite you to adapt it in your own words and add your personal reality, while remaining respectful, professional and factual.