News release

December 9, 2004

PSAC members ratify new agreement with Revenue Agency

             OTTAWA – Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) have ratified a new agreement with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).   The settlement had been reached in mid-October, following a series of rotating and general strikes that began on September 8 th .

              “Our members can be proud of their strike,” says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel.   “They were responsible for moving CRA from its original position of proposing wage increases that were inferior to those being offered to other federal public sector workers and for achieving breakthrough provisions for term workers.”

              One of those breakthroughs is a provision that will allow recurring term workers to retain accumulated sick leave credits if they are re-hired within a year, according to Union of Taxation Employees National President Betty Bannon.  

              “Under the new deal, CRA has also agreed to give indeterminate status to at least 25% of its 1,100 term workers who have over three years of service, indicates Bannon.   “This will mean that another 275 workers will now have job security.   CRA is also going to be looking at giving recurring term workers seasonal status which would improve their benefits considerably.”

              “Term workers who receive a maternity or parental leave allowance from the employer will now not have to repay that allowance if they are re-hired within 90 days,” says Customs Union Douanes Accise National President Ron Moran.   “That's a dramatic improvement from the 5 day restriction in the old agreement.”

              Some of the provisions of the new agreement include:

•  A four-year agreement effective to October 31, 2007.

•  Annual economic increases of 2.5% retroactive to November 1, 2003, 2.25% retroactive to November 1, 2004, 2.4% effective November 1, 2005 and 2.5% effective November 1, 2006.

•  Recognition in the collective agreement that Part II of the Canada Labour Code governs health and safety matters at the Agency.

•  Removal of the caps on the amount of family-related leave that can be taken for a particular purpose.

•  Five days of marriage leave for workers who participate in same-sex public commitment ceremonies.

              PSAC represents 25,000 workers at the Agency.   The new collective agreement expires on October 31, 2007.

- 30 -

For information:

Louise Laporte, PSAC Communications

(613) 560-4280 or (613) 558-4975 (cell)

Betty Bannon, National President, Union of Taxation Employees,

(613) 266-5956 (cell)

Ron Moran, National President, Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise

(613) 677-1090 (cell)

112-091204