Report by Steve Parent, AFS Regional Representative, Quebec Region - For the 2017 calendar year
Bargaining
After nearly three years of bargaining, we have reached an agreement with the CRA. It may not perfect, but I am proud of the deal the AFS Group has made. It is one of the best in the federal public service. All CRA employees in the Quebec Region are better paid than employees with the same positions elsewhere in the public service. We have also kept our sick days and are going to negotiate in the future to improve the current system. I believe that the success of our negotiations is based on five factors: 1) our seasoned negotiator, Jean-Paul Leduc; 2) the timely action taken by President Debi Daviau; 3) a Liberal government that is more open to negotiation; 4) the AFS Group Executive members, who were stubborn and refused to accept a mediocre offer; 5) the participation of AFS members, who showed that they were serious and involved and were not going to accept just anything. In 2018, we are going back to the bargaining table for our next collective agreement. It is important for you to become involved in our job action and to become more visible so that we reach a solid collective agreement.
Wins
In 2017, some of you received an extra personal day (22.5 hours rather than 15 hours in the ESS). This came about after a grievance concerning the second personal day was won at the arbitration level. When our last collective agreement was amended, AFS members gained an extra personal day but lost their volunteer day. Those who already took their volunteer day were refused their second personal day.
The CRA and AFS Group discussed this again with the arbitrator in February 2017 to find out how the decision is to be applied.
Those who filed a grievance were compensated. The others had a 30-day timeline for producing written proof in order to be eligible for it. This case shows that it is important to file grievances if you want to protect your rights. And remember to take your personal days before March 31, 2018 so that you don’t lose them.
The Delios case was won in the Court of Appeal in 2015 and the employer is still refusing to pay. Its outcome demonstrated that when an employee changes unions (goes from SP to AU, for example, either temporarily or permanently), the employee can use the personal days for the new position as well. The decision was brought all the way to the Court of Appeal and the CRA lost. Despite this decision and the fact that the CRA did not bring the matter to the Supreme Court, the CRA decided not to comply with the decision for other employees. The Sub-Group Presidents and I were disappointed with that CRA decision. If you are in such a situation, you need to file a grievance. We hope to meet with an arbitrator in 2018 to confirm the Delios ruling.
A new case was won against the CRA in 2017: the Fehr case. It was similar to the Delios case, but it involved family-related leave. The CRA appealed the case to the Federal Court. Once again, if you change unions, you will need to file a grievance to maintain your rights.
Staffing
I am still in discussions with management to identify some best staffing practices that should be implemented in all offices.
In 2017, we witnessed some external competitions in the Quebec Region. With people leaving for retirement, the CRA indicated that it may be using external competitions if there weren’t enough people within the organization to fill the positions. In 2018, we will be there to ensure that internal staff members have priority over external competitions, which are a last resort.
Employees work hard to prepare themselves for competitions. It is important that the results be sound and fair. We are urging management and HR to consult the union to avoid staffing problems.
Conclusion
The work of a Regional Representative involves convincing management to find solutions to the problems affecting employees and to avoid them in the future. In that regard, we have a respectful relationship with the new Assistant Commissioner, Louis Beauséjour. We sometimes don’t agree, but we are having some frank discussions to improve the CRA and employee satisfaction.
Working as a Regional Representative requires being a team player. I work with Sub-Group Presidents, Stewards, PIPSC Employment Relations Officers and the AFS Group Executive. I would like to thank all of them for the significant part they played in meeting common goals, such as defending members and improving our working conditions.
I would also like to extend my thanks to the members who participated in union activities. Job action is important to negotiations. As always, I look forward to seeing you at the Sub-Group AGMs.
Thank you!
Steve Parent, CPA, CMA, D. Fisc.
AFS Regional Representative, Quebec Region
514-709-5787