Sisters, Brothers and Friends,
I wish to inform you that a Policy Grievance concerning the CRA’s Mandatory Vaccination Policy was filed with the employer by the PSAC, as bargaining agent, on Thursday March 10, 2022 at the request of our office.
Sisters, Brothers and Friends,
In mid-November 2021, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) issued guidelines to Components in dealing with grievances from members related to the employer’s mandatory vaccination policy. At the outset, these guidelines were considered confidential to the Components and not to be shared widely.
TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE UNION OF TAXATION EMPLOYEES
Dear Sisters, Brothers and Friends,
As you are aware, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) released its policy on COVID-19 vaccine requirements for all Agency employees via a message from the Commissioner dated November 8, 2021. Before the issuance of this message, the National Office of the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) was provided with a draft copy of the policy. We requested to be consulted and we were invited to a consultation meeting on October 22, 2021 to discuss the draft policy.
Sisters, Brothers and Friends
The federal government today announced a new policy requiring mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 for federal public service employees.
PSAC has issued a response to this announcement. PSAC has also published a FAQ entitled "Your rights at work: Vaccinations and COVID-19".
In a recent meeting with PSAC and other federal public service bargaining agents, Treasury Board committed to ongoing consultation in the development of a vaccine requirement framework.
The employer has confirmed that no new policy will be implemented until after the current federal election.
This week, national political party leaders have made concerning statements about disciplining or terminating federal public service workers who choose not to be vaccinated as part of the government’s vaccine mandate proposal.
PSAC supports vaccination requirements for federal workers to ensure the safety of our members in their workplaces, and to protect our communities, but using discipline and termination to enforce them is unacceptable.
On August 13, the federal government announced it will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all federal public service workers by early fall.
The government also expects that Crown corporations and other federally regulated employers will require vaccinations for their employees by the end of October.
As Canada enters a fourth wave of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever for Canadians to do everything they can to protect each other and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
As you are aware, since the CRA was delegated by the current Government the responsibility for administering the Emergency Benefits, the Union of Taxation Employees has collaborated closely with the employer in order to assist them in recruiting and encouraging our members occupying other positions to volunteer to perform duties related to the Emergency Benefits.
The Canada Revenue Agency will be hiring up to 2,000 new call centre agents to help Canadians file their tax return in an unprecedented year that saw millions of taxpayers rely on the Canada Emergency Benefits during the pandemic.
By now, you may have read the press release from the Minister of National Revenue and an email to all call centre employees announcing measures to be taken by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to deal with tax and benefit information concerning the emergency benefits and other matters related to the tax filing season.
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