Hello UTE Local 00013 members! We are pleased to announce our upcoming annual general meeting for Tuesday June 13th. We will share a specific time later, but we anticipate a start between 5:15-6pm. More details will follow shortly.
Please continue to monitor your inbox for updates on the tentative agreement otherwise, and we look forward to seeing you in June!
Dear members, first we just want to thank everyone who walked the picket line or otherwise took action during our strike. We were heartened to see members of our local day in and out, rain or shine (mostly rain!) and truly appreciate everyone’s sacrifices and effort to get a new contract.
As you probably know, UTE reached an agreement last week. PSAC has published a page here which breaks down some of the items that were agreed upon. We encourage members to read over the details here, as well as the attached chart for pay schedule.
While this agreement has been reached by our bargaining team, we’d like to remind everyone that it has not been ratified yet and we absolutely implore every member to vote once voting starts. We do not have further information on voting at this point, but that information will be shared by the union shortly.
Finally, Here is a chart that was put together by another local on what the tentative pay schedule may look like (emphasis on may, this is NOT an official chart).
Please feel free to reach out if you have further questions or inquiries on anything here, though we’re still waiting to get some details from UTE and PSAC so we may not have every piece of information available at this moment.
In solidarity,
UTE Local 00013
Attention: Toronto Center 13
Thank you to our members that continue to show up on the picket line every day, as we fight for the best possible contract that we can get. We are almost there.
Unfortunately, it has been brought to the Local’s attention that:
We are taking a zero-tolerance approach to these members. We have started the process to revoke strike pay for members that sign in and then leave the picket line, dishonestly collecting strike pay. In addition, we have a list of members who have not picketed, instead sitting at home waiting to cash in on the deal that we will achieve. We will take action pursuant to PSAC’s constitution to discipline any member who crossed the picket or is dishonestly earning strike pay.
This process could lead to suspension or termination of membership and/or fines.
We urge all members who are not on an accommodation, to support our bargaining team on the picket line. We will only win this fight with sustained pressure, just like we did for maternity leave, sick leave and so many other benefits that we have obtained.
May 2, 2023
This government insists it cares about workers and building a strong public service. Yet for nearly two years, they’ve stalled and dragged out negotiations for our over 35,000 PSAC-UTE members, and denied us the fair wages and decent working conditions we deserve.
They forced us to secure an overwhelming strike mandate and take strike action to make any movement at the table.
Now, after being on strike for two weeks on picket lines across the country, Canada Revenue Agency continues to play games, and has tabled offers significantly inferior to the tentative agreement PSAC reached with Treasury Board May 1.
They also continue to push for concessions at the table that are simply unacceptable.
This is a slap in the face to the PSAC-UTE members who have been here for Canadians and this government during the pandemic not only to resolve tax issues, but to deliver vital emergency’ financial aid to millions of Canadians in record time.
Our call centre members also stepped in to assist with the passport and Afghanistan refugee crisis when the government needed us most.
We’ve been here for this government, and we expect more respect.
In solidarity,
Chris Aylward, PSAC National President
Marc Brière, Union of Taxation of Employees National President
Adam Jackson, Union of Taxation Employees 2nd National Vice-President
May 2, 2023
Good evening Sisters, Brothers and Friends,
I just want to let you know that our bargaining team is still working hard at the negotiating table tonight with the employer’s representatives in an attempt to reach a fair and reasonable agreement for our members.
An update will be posted as soon as possible.
Thank you and let’s keep fighting together!
In Solidarity,
Marc Brière
National President
Union of Taxation Employees
Hello,
We want to thank you for your time on the picket line and support for our ongoing strike. Please continue to monitor your inboxes for updates from PSAC and UTE, and we also recommend you follow the news and PSAC social media pages for more instant updates.
As you may know, tomorrow is May 1st and is celebrated as international workers day. We want to increase our visibility on this day, and as such we’d like to ask that you try to join the picket line later in the day at or after 11am. We understand that lots of members prefer to do an early shift, but we’d really love to have a lot of people out on the line later in the afternoon. We also anticipate some guest speakers joining us a little after the lunch hour. Of course, if you have schedule conflicts and need to come earlier, you can do so.
Though we’re all anxious for a contract, this is a crucial moment for us to show our strength as a union. Again, thank you for all you’ve done over the last week in a half.
In solidarity,
UTE Local 00013
Last weekend, members in the TB and CRA bargaining units received an email asking them to sign up to register for e-transfer for strike pay. Here’s what you should know about registering for Interact e-transfer.
Q: I received an email with the subject line: Strike pay: sign up for e-transfer. Is this an official email from PSAC?
Yes. This is an official email from PSAC asking you to register for strike pay to be transferred securely through e-Transfer with your personal e-mail address. The email is unique to each member and linked to your individual PSAC ID. It cannot be forwarded to other members.
Q: If I do not provide an e-mail address for an e-transfer, will I continue to receive strike pay?
If we do not receive your consent and preferred email address, your strike pay will be processed by cheque and distributed in the region by hand on the picket line.
Q: I deleted the email by accident, what should I do?
Contact your PSAC regional office and they can resend it to you.
Q: I did not receive this email, what do I do?
This means we may not have your personal, non-work e-mail address to communicate with you. You can add your personal, non-work email through PSAC’s member portal.
You will not be able to use an email that was forwarded to you by another member because the original email is unique to each member and linked to their individual PSAC ID.
Please check your spam/junk folders.
Q: Can my regional office re-send the e-mail directly to me?
Yes. Regional office staff can re-send emails directly. We strongly encourage members to ensure their contact information is up to date in the member portal.
Since the strike began last week, talks with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) have continued, including over the weekend and again yesterday. To date, we have successfully resolved some issues related to hours of work and information to be provided to PSAC so that the union can communicate and engage with the membership more easily and effectively. This is progress that we have realized so far because of the strike.
However, to date, we remain in dispute over key issues with the CRA. These include:
Telework: We are seeking language in our collective agreement so that our members have the right to telework arrangements, and if management says no, management must provide an explanation in writing, and if unreasonable, the union can challenge the decision. Other federal employers have agreed to this. CRA has to date taken the position that there is to be no language on telework in our collective agreement.
Compensation: We are seeking compensation that will address the cost of living and inflationary pressures. We are also looking for wage adjustments to bring our wages in line with our fellow public service employees. The employer’s position for compensation does not provide for such a wage adjustment and is far below inflation, which is unacceptable to us.
Job security: We are seeking protections that are in line with other collective agreements, including years of service recognition and protections against the contracting out of our jobs. The employer to date has said no to these proposals.
Our demands are reasonable. And we believe we will win this struggle with the government if we continue to stick together and stay strong. Those moments when we have been awaiting responses from management, we have been proud to walk the picket line with our CRA coworkers while here in Ottawa.
Together, we will overcome and make gains for workers. One day longer, one day stronger.
Your PSAC-UTE bargaining team:
For more information and to take part in strike action, visit workerscantwait.ca.
Sisters, Brothers and Friends,
The Executive Council of the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) held a special meeting today (Sunday) to discuss the top-up of strike pay for our UTE members who have been participating in the strike.
We are pleased to announce that members who are on strike and receiving strike pay from the PSAC will receive a top up of $50 per day from UTE, effective Monday, April 24, 2023. Having said this, it will be necessary to closely monitor these additional payments and to ensure that these top-ups will not deplete the financial resources available to the union to continue to deliver services to its members in other matters.
Pursuant to UTE By-Laws and Regulations, resolutions become effective upon passage of the resolution. Accordingly, this top-up will not be paid retroactively.
We have made arrangements with the PSAC that they will issue this top-up on our behalf and invoice us for the cost. Members will not have to do anything extra to receive this top-up.
This action was taken in order to provide you with additional financial support during the strike and to send a very strong message to Treasury Board and the Canada Revenue Agency that UTE is fully committed to supporting the efforts of its members in achieving a fair and reasonable collective agreement.
In closing, I want to thank you again for your activism and collectivity in supporting your bargaining team.
Together we will prevail!
Our brothers and sisters at UTE Local 00051 (GTA West TSO) are hosting a webinar along with a PSAC representative tonight at 6:30. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and get more information on a potential strike. Please check your inbox for more details (ensure you’re signed up for emails). If you do not receive it, send us an email.