GOVERNMENT DELAYING NEGOTIATIONS FOR 35,000 PSAC-UTE MEMBERS AS STRIKE CONTINUES

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

Our bargaining team is still at the table negotiating tonight

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

Update From UTE Local 00013

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

Receive your strike pay via Interac e-transfer

Update from PSAC-UTE bargaining team as national strike continues

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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:

• Adam Jackson (UTE Local 00011, Kingston, ON)
• Jamie van Sydenborgh (UTE Local 00014, Hamilton, ON)
• Kimberley Koch (UTE Local 20002, Prince George, BC)
• Andria Cullen (UTE Local 00013, Toronto, ON)
• Ashley Green (UTE Local 90000, St. John’s, NF)
• Eddy Aristil (UTE Local 10028, Laval, QC)
• David Lanthier (UTE Local 70000, Ottawa, ON)
• Dan Aiken (UTE Local 90002, Charlottetown, PEI)
• Brian Oldford (UTE Local 80003, Halifax, NS)
• Morgan Gay (PSAC-UTE Negotiator)
• Shane O’Brien (UTE Senior Labour Relations Officer)

For more information and to take part in strike action, visit workerscantwait.ca.

UTE Strike Pay Top-Up

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!

Strike Info Session Tonight at 6:30pm

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.

Strike deadline announced for 155,000 PSAC members

We ask that you continue to stay posted on our local’s, UTE’s (ute-sei.org) and PSAC’s website (psacunion.ca) where updates on possible strike action will be posted. Information sessions may be scheduled for tomorrow, so please keep your eyes peeled here as well.

More than 155,000 PSAC members working for Treasury Board and the Canada Revenue Agency will begin strike action on April 19 if a deal cannot be reached by 9 p.m. ET April 18 – setting the stage for one of the largest strikes in Canada’s history.

“We’ve made some progress at each of our four bargaining tables over the past two weeks, but we’re still too far apart on several key issues, including wages that keep up with the cost of living, job security and remote work language,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC National President.

“We’re committed to remaining at the table until a fair deal is reached for all our members – both for our 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency members who resume negotiations today, and our 120,000 Treasury Board members still at the table.”

PSAC members have been without a contract since negotiations with the federal government began in June 2021, and last week, voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action.

“These workers – like all workers – deserve fair wages and decent working conditions. Despite some progress at the bargaining table, our members are frustrated that while negotiations drag on, they continue to fall behind,” said Aylward.

“We’ve already been at the table for nearly two years, and these workers can’t wait any longer. That’s why we’re setting a clock on this round of bargaining.”

With so many federal public service workers potentially on strike as of April 19, Canadians can expect to see slowdowns or a complete shutdown of services nationwide, including a complete halt of the tax season, disruptions to employment insurance, immigration and passport applications; interruptions to supply chains and international trade at ports, harbours, and airports; and slowdowns at the border with administrative staff on strike.

UTE-PSAC MEMBERS PROVIDE OVERWHELMING STRIKE MANDATE

Workers at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action on behalf of 35,000 workers represented by the Union of Taxation Employees and the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

“Our members have sent a strong message to CRA,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC national president. “Workers can’t wait, and we’re ready to show this government we won’t let workers fall behind.”

Workers at CRA have been without a contract for more than a year while the cost of living has continued to soar. The government still has major concessions on the table, and has yet to respond to the union’s wage proposals.

A final round of negotiations has been set for April 17-20 between PSAC and Canada Revenue Agency. Members at CRA are in a legal strike position April 14.

“Our members are falling further behind as inflation soars and wages are stuck in neutral,” said Marc Brière, national president of the Union of Taxation Employees, a component of PSAC. “We’ve negotiated in good faith, but our members have had enough. Our bills are mounting, and our families are feeling the pinch. And now, we’re going to show the government that workers won’t wait.”

PSAC-UTE members stepped up during the pandemic, when Canadians needed it most — and delivered. They processed nearly 30 million CERB applications and provided historic financial relief to millions of people hardest hit by COVID-19.

“Tax season is here,” Mr. Brière said. “Going on strike is never our first choice. But securing a strong strike mandate now gives us the leverage we need to reach a fair and decent contract. And if we need to take job action to get the collective agreement our members deserve, that’s what we’re prepared to do.”