AGM and Local Elections – May 31st

AGM and Local Elections – May 31st

Hello Toronto TSO UTE Members,

We’re excited to announce our upcoming AGM and local elections taking place Tuesday May 31st at 5:15pm. Our meetings typically run for around 2 hours with time for questions at the end. This is a great opportunity to meet your executives, and we’ll be joined by special guests from UTE as well.

Members who join for the entirety of the meeting will receive a gift card worth 40 dollars.

We are also going to be holding our local elections. If you’re considering running, please let us know in advance what position you’re interested in and we’ll add you to our voting poll. We always encourage members to participate and get involved in their union.

This event is only for Toronto TSO (formerly Toronto Centre TSO) UTE members. Registration is open now. The registration link is listed below and you’ll require a personal email address to sign up (only 1 registration per member). If you know your UTE ID number than please enter it, but it is not required.

Registration Link

Don’t hesitate to reach out to a member of the executive with questions.

In solidarity,

UTE Local 00013

PSAC-UTE bargaining: Hours of work, remote work top priorities

PSAC-UTE bargaining: Hours of work, remote work top priorities

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April 1, 2022

The PSAC-UTE bargaining team discussed key bargaining priorities including hours of work and remote work during negotiations with Canada Revenue Agency March 28-30.

Our team also tabled proposals to provide greater protection against discrimination in CRA workplaces, and to ensure mandatory training to all employees on anti-oppression and discrimination.

The team reiterated the importance of access to remote work, having previously tabled proposals to ensure that management cannot unreasonably deny remote work arrangements.

More than 33,000 PSAC-UTE members have continued to roll out historic support to Canadians throughout the pandemic. Now, our members should be able to rely on the government for a fair deal at the bargaining table.

Hours of work, vacation scheduling

The team made considerable progress on vacation leave scheduling and also discussed more options for employees who are looking for greater work-life balance during the workday, along with the proposal to provide time during working hours to members who are nursing.

The PSAC-UTE team has made proposals to provide better access to compressed work-week options, provide enhanced notice when employees’ hours are changed, and ensure employees’ years of service count for something when decisions are made concerning evening work.

During bargaining, CRA continues to push for concessions, but our team has been clear that we are interested in negotiating improvements for our members, not taking steps backwards.

Next steps and show your support

We are scheduled to return to the bargaining table in early May.

Support your bargaining team with our digital backgrounds:

  • Video background option #1 and #2 for all your work meetings

Visit the Union of Taxation Employees and PSAC websites for more information and subscribe for regular updates (UTE-SEI). If you have any questions, please contact your UTE Local.

CRA bargaining: Union pushes back against mandatory evening, weekend work

CRA bargaining: Union pushes back against mandatory evening, weekend work

February 18, 2022

Hours of work and work-life balance were critical issues for the PSAC-UTE bargaining team during negotiations with Canada Revenue Agency, February 15-17. The team placed a strong emphasis on improved hours of work and remote work options for our members employed by CRA.

Our team has made proposals that would provide for better access to compressed work week options, provide enhanced notice when employees’ hours are changed, and ensure employees’ years of service count when decisions are made concerning evening work.

CRA eyes evening and weekend work

While CRA has not tabled its proposals concerning hours of work, they did indicate an interest in moving to a model with increased evening and weekend work. CRA also expressed an interest in introducing split shifts, meaning an employee could be required to work multiple shifts per day.

These concessions would have a major impact on the lives of PSAC-UTE members and contradict our team’s proposals to improve work-life balance. The current collective agreement gives our members the right to request flexible hours, and we intend to build on that.

We can already see the employer trying to implement these concessions in the workplace. Recently, we have received reports of the employer assigning our members Saturday shifts in violation of our collective agreement. Grievances are being filed and PSAC’s legal team is considering taking CRA before the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board.

Remote work and vacation leave

We also discussed our proposals concerning vacation leave, both in terms of increasing annual leave entitlements and a simplification of the process for vacation leave scheduling. Talks are ongoing on this issue.

Lastly, we discussed remote work arrangements with the employer. In light of the shift assignment violations we are seeing in the workplace, our bargaining team reminded CRA that they cannot unilaterally introduce changes to employees’ current remote work arrangements under the law while we are in negotiations.

Next steps and show your support

The team is scheduled to return to the bargaining table the last week of March.

Support your bargaining team with our digital backgrounds:

  • Video background option #1 and #2 for all your work meetings

Visit the Union of Taxation Employees and PSAC websites for more information and subscribe for regular updates (UTE-SEI). If you have any questions, please contact your UTE Local.

Bargaining Underway with CRA

Bargaining Underway with CRA

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January 14, 2022

Our PSAC-UTE bargaining team, representing more than 33,000 PSAC-UTE members working at Canada Revenue Agency, rolled out historic aid to Canadians during the pandemic in record time and have now kicked off bargaining with the employer January 11-13.

The federal government relied on PSAC-UTE members to process over 27 million CERB applications over the past two years that provided financial relief to millions of Canadians hit hardest by COVID-19 – and they delivered. Now, our members should be able to rely on this government for a fair deal at the bargaining table.

The PSAC-UTE bargaining team made it clear to the Agency they are looking to build on the gains they achieved in the last round of negotiations, and to secure a contract that recognizes the vital role they continue to play for Canadians.

PSAC-UTE objectives this round include:

  1. Work-life balance: Increased work-life balance for PSAC-UTE members at CRA is a priority. Members have gone above and beyond over the past two years. The PSAC-UTE negotiating team made it clear that employees are looking for additional paid time to take care of themselves and their families.
  2. Job security: The Agency has repeatedly tried to contract out the work of PSAC-UTE members to private firms. Research has shown that privatization and contracting out means higher costs, more risk, and reduced quality of services. PSAC-UTE will be seeking new language in the collective agreement that will protect our work and our jobs, including improvements to the Workforce Adjustment Appendix.
  3. Hours of work: The team is seeking language to further protect against evening, weekend and shift work, and greater compensation when such work is required. The team also believes that years of service should be recognized at the Agency beyond vacation accrual.
  4. Remote work: The team will be seeking better protections and rights in the context of telework and remote work. Remote work has become a part of everyday life for the vast majority of our members, and it’s time to look to the future by enshrining it into our collective agreements.

PSAC-UTE and the employer exchanged non-wage-related proposals at the table.

PSAC-UTE proposals

Canada Revenue Agency proposals

The Agency has made proposals that would water down members’ rights with respect to hours of work, leave for term employees, and access to certain leave for all employees. The team made it clear PSAC-UTE is seeking to make gains in this round and will not accept concessions at the table.

PSAC-UTE will be tabling wage proposals at a future date once they have received and analyzed employer payroll data.

PSAC-UTE is scheduled to resume negotiations in February. We’ll be sure to provide updates as we progress. As always, membership solidarity and support are the key to achieving a fair contract. Together, we can make CRA a better place to work.

FEDERAL VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS: NO POLICY UNTIL AFTER FEDERAL ELECTION

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FEDERAL VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS: NO POLICY UNTIL AFTER FEDERAL ELECTION

August 24, 2021

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.

PSAC remains in support of vaccination requirements to protect the health and safety of our members and their communities. Throughout the consultation process, PSAC will ensure the protection of members’ rights in the workplace, as well as their right to privacy.

We will continue to provide updates as the federal government develops its vaccination requirements plan.

UTE-SEI Local 00013 AGM

UTE-SEI Local 00013 AGM

Our first virtual Local 00013 Annual General Meeting is on May 20th at 5:15 pm.

This AGM will happen via Zoom and will not require you to turn on your camera. Please register here.

Joining us will be National President Marc Brière and Regional Vice President Ken Bye.

We will also have prizes for people who attend. Feel free to contact a member with any questions.

Proposed Changes to Bylaws and Regulations of UTE Local 00013

Proposed Changes to Bylaws and Regulations of UTE Local 00013

See Linked Documents Below for the Amendments

Please be advised we are proposing changes to the Bylaws and Regulations of Local 00013 of the Union of Taxation Employees of the Public Service Alliance of Canada. As per Bylaw 12, Section 2 of the UTE Local 00013 Bylaws and Regulations, please find attached a list of proposed changes and the proposed amended Bylaws. These changes will be voted on May 20, 2020 at our virtual Annual General Meeting. Further information will be provided shortly regarding the time of this event, the speakers presenting and how to receive a link to the virtual AGM.

Should you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact any one of the Executives or the Stewards.

Thank you,

Andria Cullen
Local President
Union of Taxation Employees
00013 Toronto Centre

Relevant Files:
Bylaws and Regulations of Local 00013 With Amendments
Proposed Amendments