Union calls CRA labour complaint hypocritical ahead of strike votes and tax season

OTTAWA –

The union representing greater than 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) staff mentioned the company’s current labour practices criticism towards it’s hypocritical as strike votes loom forward of tax season.

“I find it insulting,” mentioned Marc Briere, nationwide president of the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE).

On Friday, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) filed an unfair labour practices criticism towards the Public Service Alliance of Canada — Union of Taxation Employees (PSAC-UTE), claiming it’s not bargaining in good religion.

It requested the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board to pressure the union to return to the bargaining desk earlier than being allowed to declare or authorize a strike.

The union declared an deadlock in negotiations on Sept. 1, then withdrew from mediation on Dec. 20, the identical day it started.

The union mentioned it withdrew from mediation as a result of the Treasury Board had introduced a return-to-work order for all staff only a few days earlier than mediation was set to begin, which the CRA selected to adjust to at the same time as return-to-work was a key bargaining situation.

Briere mentioned the union initially declared a bargaining deadlock as a result of the CRA refused to desk a wage provide, and mentioned the return-to-work was the ultimate straw for the union and CRA staff.

“Our team was just livid,” he mentioned.

The CRA didn’t reply to a request for remark.

The union mentioned it requested the CRA to withdraw its return-to-work order and talk about telework throughout mediation, and when the CRA refused, the union selected to withdraw from mediation.

Three days earlier than the labour criticism was filed, the union introduced it might be launching strike votes to be performed from Jan. 31 to April 7, throughout which era the union and the CRA may also be partaking in Public Interest Commission hearings advisable by the labour board on Jan. 27 and Feb. 20.

When the union left the bargaining desk, the CRA mentioned there have been greater than 200 excellent bargaining calls for, lots of which contain what it deems to be important prices to the CRA and taxpayers. Briere disputed this characterization.

The union’s transfer towards a strike place would have an effect on the tax submitting season, the income company mentioned, including that it is disillusioned within the union’s actions.

Briere mentioned that is the purpose. He mentioned primarily based on what he is listening to from CRA staff, he is “extremely confident” the union will obtain a powerful strike mandate, and might be in a authorized place to strike in April.

Unless the employer is ready to launch expedited negotiations and attain a deal, he expects the CRA to return to a standstill at its busiest time of yr (the deadline to file taxes is April 30).

“I’m going to shut it down exactly when it hurts,” he mentioned.

“It’s very unfortunate. It’s not what we want. But we reached a point of no return.”

The union, in its launch asserting the strike votes, mentioned that wages holding tempo with inflation and a wise distant work coverage are essential in reaching a cope with the CRA. Briere added that working hours are a giant sticking level for CRA staff as nicely.

He mentioned that bargaining between PSAC-UTE and the CRA has been strained for years, marked by delays, and the union had hoped after the CRA’s efforts through the pandemic, this spherical can be totally different.

“We are really fed up with the way that bargaining has been going on, not just this round, but the last three rounds,” mentioned Briere.

“We pulled the plug because … the system is broken.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 16, 2023.