UTE STANDS WITH BLACK FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS IN THEIR CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT

December 10, 2020

On this day, December 10, 2020, a day recognized by the United Nations as Human Rights Day, the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) joins with the bargaining agent, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), in support of  the legal action taken on behalf of nearly 30,000 past and present federal public service workers who identify as Black, Caribbean or of African descent.

As you may be aware, the PSAC intends to serve as an intervener in the class action lawsuit filed against the Government of Canada by Black public service workers who have been subjected to discriminatory hiring and promotional practices.

The class action, which has been filed with the Federal Court of Canada, argues that Black employee exclusion has led to economic and psychological harm for thousands of public service workers since the 1970s. The claim calls on the federal government to implement a plan to truly diversify the federal public service and provide restitution to tens of thousands of Black public service workers.

While this class action was advanced independently from the Union, our support of this legal action is well within the spirit and principles of our ongoing battle against racism, including the pursuit of the end of these practices and the resolution and remedy for our members as a result of these practices.

The federal government has acknowledged that systemic racism is prevalent in Canadian society and within government institutions. While this is not news to UTE, we are pleased with this acknowledgement as a first step and we embrace an opportunity to join with our Black members in an effort to identify solutions to remedy the injustices and systemic discrimination that they have had to endure.

In solidarity,

Marc Brière
National President

UPDATE: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT

December 9, 2020

Here’s good news for our members. The CRA provided us with an update earlier today regarding the implementation of our new collective agreement signed on November 13, 2020.

We are happy to confirm that the CRA plans to pay eligible employees the non-pensionable lump sum amount of $400 on the pay of December 23, 2020. The November 1, 2020 salary rate will also be updated on the pay of December 23, 2020.

In addition, Public Services Procurement Canada has tentatively scheduled (may be subject to change) the following payments:

• Retroactive adjustment on the pay of March 31, 2021, and
• Lump sum payment of $500 in recognition of the extended implementation timeline on the pay of April 28, 2021.  

We will continue to keep you informed of any updates as they become available.

In solidarity,

Marc Brière
National President

THE NEW COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT IS SIGNED

November 13, 2020

We are pleased to announce that the Public Service Alliance of Canada – Union of Taxation Employees (PSAC/UTE) and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) signed a new collective agreement this morning for approximately 29,000 employees working at CRA and being represented by the PSAC-UTE.

The new collective agreement is now in effect. It applies from November 1, 2016, to October 31, 2021, inclusively. The CRA has a maximum of 180 days from today to implement the provisions of the collective agreement, which includes the adjustment of the employees’ wages and paying out the retroactive and lump sum payments.

The Agency committed to keeping the union updated every two weeks as to the progress of getting union members paid out. The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday November 17, 2020.

Once again, we want to thank each and every one of you, our members, for your ongoing support to your bargaining team and your union.

If you have any questions about the new collective agreement, please speak with one of your local union representatives.
 

SIGNING OF THE NEW COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT ON NOVEMBER 13TH

November 5, 2020

Now that the tentative agreement between PSAC/UTE and CRA has been approved by the Governor in Council and the Governor General of Canada, the parties will be signing  the new collective agreement on Friday, November 13, 2020.

The date of signing is the date on which our contract takes effect.  Everyone in the bargaining unit on that date is eligible to receive the one-time lump sum payment in the amount of $400.00. 

CRA has 180 days from the date of signing the new collective agreement to:

• implement the new rates of pay;
• provide retroactive pay effective to the expiry date of the old contract; and
• pay the one-time lump sum payment in the amount of $500.00 as compensation for the extended implementation timelines. All our members are entitled to this amount as well as those who retired after the expiry date of the last contract.

We are in discussions with the Agency as to when these payments will be made. Further information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.
 

UPCOMING SIGNING OF THE NEW COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT

October 22, 2020

Hello Sisters and Brothers,

We know you are all impatiently waiting to learn when the new collective agreement will finally be signed. Many of you have contacted us regarding this issue.

As mentioned by the Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner in an email sent to employees on September 30th, the CRA, as a separate employer, must seek approval of the agreement from the Governor in Council (this is in fact the Cabinet of the federal government and the Governor General). Once the Governor in Council approves it, it will publish an Order in Council. Then, the CRA and the PSAC-UTE will meet shortly thereafter to sign the new collective agreement.

The Cabinet is expected to meet to approve our agreement at the end of October or early November.

We therefore anticipate being able to sign the new collective agreement in mid-November unless an emergency arises that would postpone the meeting of the Cabinet.

As soon as we have confirmation from CRA that it has received the Order in Council, we will inform you of the specific date of signing of the new collective agreement.

In Solidarity,

Marc Brière
National President

Acknowledgements from the National President, Marc Brière

The following video has been posted on our website.

UTE source

Here is the text of the video:

Hello Sisters and Brothers,
 
As you now know, most of you voted in favour of the tentative agreement reached on July 25^th between our bargaining team and the CRA team. 
 
Finally, we have our new contract!  And it’s thanks to you that we have come this far.
 
You are the union!
 
Indeed, your unwavering support for our bargaining team has been invaluable and has greatly contributed to our success.
 
In fact, the CRA and the government had no choice but to recognize your exceptional work and especially what you have accomplished since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
As your National President, this makes me very proud and I absolutely want to thank you all very much.
 
Of course, I would also like to congratulate and thank our bargaining team for their excellent work and great dedication.
 
Indeed, under the leadership of our Second National Vice-President, Brother Adam Jackson, who is responsible for UTE negotiations, our team has achieved the goals it set out to accomplish:
 
Which were:

• To improve the work-life balance and working conditions for all our members and especially for call centre employees;
• and, of course, to achieve wage increases that at least match the cost of living.

In addition to Brother Jackson, I want to thank each and every member of the team. For UTE, they are Brother Jamie vanSydenborgh, who is the Co-chair of our National Bargaining Committee, along with Brothers Gary Esslinger, Greg Krokosh, Cosimo Crupi, Eddy Aristil, Brian Oldford and Shane O’Brien and Sister Michelle Neill. For the PSAC, Brothers Morgan Gay, Negotiator, and Pierre-Samuel Proulx, Research Officer.
 
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank PSAC National President Brother Chris Aylward for his unwavering support.
 
Finally, I must absolutely acknowledge the ongoing support and commitment of our Locals who have organized a multitude of activities to mobilize and keep you informed throughout this round of bargaining and the UTE Executive Council Officers for their continued support to our Locals and to you, our members.
 
Thank you so much to all our union representatives, whether at the local, regional or national level.  Keep up the great work!
 
Sisters and Brothers, all together, we have shown once again that solidarity works!  Again and always.
 
And now, what's next?
 
Well, in the coming weeks, the Governor in Council of the federal government will officially approve the agreement and we will meet with CRA representatives to sign the new collective agreement.
 
Except for wage increases, almost all of which are retroactive, the terms of the new contract come into effect on the date of signing.
 
Rest assured that as soon as the contract is signed, you will be the first ones to be informed.
 
Thank you and take good care of yourself and your loved ones.
 

PSAC MEMBERS RATIFY NEW AGREEMENTS WITH TREASURY BOARD AND CRA

September 29, 2020

A majority of PSAC members in the Program and Administrative (PA), Technical Services (TC), Education and Library Science (EB), and PSAC-UTE (Canada Revenue Agency) bargaining units have voted in favour of their respective tentative agreements. The four units represent nearly 110,000 federal public service workers who have gone above and beyond to support Canadians during this pandemic.

The new collective agreements for the PA, TC and EB groups cover the 2018-2021 period, while the new PSAC-UTE collective agreement covers the 2016-2021 period. All agreements provide for fair wages, no concessions and improved working conditions.

“I am proud of the elected members of our bargaining teams for their unwavering dedication during this round of talks,” said Chris Aylward, PSAC National President. “Thanks to their hard work and the solidarity shown by thousands of members across the country, we were able to negotiate a fair deal. We’re now in a strong position to build on these improvements in the next round of bargaining.”

Next Steps

In the coming weeks, PSAC will meet with Treasury Board and CRA representatives to sign the new collective agreements. With the exception of monetary provisions, which are retroactive, new contract terms come into effect on the date of signing.

Both employers have 180 days from the signing of the contracts to implement wage increases, wage adjustments and allowances. As explained in the ratification kits, in view of this extended implementation timeline, PSAC negotiated a $500 lump sum payment into all contracts.

PSAC will update members when contracts are signed. Please keep your contact information up to date via the member portal.

SV group, Parks, CFIA and FB group

Members in the Operational Services (SV) group have until October 5 to vote on their new contract while those in the Parks and CFIA units will vote between October 5 and November 4.

Members in the Border Services (FB) unit are still in talks.