News release

September 8, 2004

PSAC on strike at Canada Revenue Agency

OTTAWA – Public Service Alliance of Canada members at the Canada Revenue Agency will be on strike on September 8th, the latest group to take strike action against the federal government.

"Our members will be on the picket line because of the failure of the Agency to come to the table with a mandate to negotiate a settlement," according to PSAC National President Nycole Turmel.

PSAC returned to the table on September 7 th , assuming that CRA would be ready to talk settlement based on the recommendations contained in a recent Conciliation Board report.

"Instead, the Agency tabled an offer of 2.25%, 1.75% and 1.75% over three years," advises Turmel. That's a far cry from the Conciliation Board's recommendation of 3.0%, 2.75% and 2.5%.

CRA has also refused to move on other outstanding issues, such as the elimination of regional pay zones for CRA operational workers, as recommended in the Conciliation Board's report.

Another major issue in contention is the treatment of term workers at the Agency. The union wants term workers with three years of continuous service to be converted to indeterminate status, as they are at Treasury Board.  

"We're obviously disappointed that CRA has refused to discuss any of the outstanding issues,” says Turmel.   “This seems to be another case of an Agency taking its marching orders from Treasury Board, rather than working to reach a settlement that is appropriate for their workplace." 

Turmel indicates that the union remains prepared to negotiate a settlement.   In the meantime, the flow of revenue into government coffers will be interrupted as PSAC members mount picket lines at Taxation Centres and other CRA locations across the country.

PSAC represents approximately 25,000 workers at CRA.   Their contract expired on October 31, 2003.  

- 30 –

For information:          

Louise Laporte, PSAC Communications

(613) 560-4287 or (613) 558-4975 (cell)

Betty Bannon, National President, Union of Taxation Employees

(613) 266-5956 (cell)

Ron Moran, National President, Customs and Excise Union Douanes Accise

(613) 677-1090 (cell)

56-030904