The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
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CS National Consultation Representative’s Report for the 2018 AFS AGM

Bargaining

This past September 2017 the AFS reached a tentative agreement with CRA wherein, all AFS members got a 7.5% economic increase over four years, along with nonfinancial improvements.  As your National CS Consultation Representative, I strongly supported the idea that all of our AFS members deserved the same economic increase and noneconomic improvements in a new collective agreement.  As such, I presented a PowerPoint deck at the bargaining table that highlighted the key differences between CRA CS’s and Treasury Board.  You now make more than your Treasury Board counterparts.  Thank you for your support during bargaining.

Essential Services

Prior to the completion of bargaining, the AFS Essential Services Team along with JP Leduc met with CRA to finalise the Essential Positions.  We are happy to say that there was a significant reduction in the number of CS positions that are deemed essential nationally.

New CRA-AFS Alignment

During 2017 I worked with CRA management and the AFS Regional IT and NCR IT reps to produce a CRA/AFS Consultation structure that would empower our Zone Presidents and help to reduce the confusion CRA was experiencing when communicating with the union.  It ensures that our Zone Presidents will have regularly scheduled meetings with their appropriate management counterpart and their voices heard.  It will help us to build a better working relationship with CRA management from the ground up.

Mental Health Committee

For 2018, I have begun consulting with management to develop a Mental Health Committee within ITB utilizing the Treasury Board Mental Health Standard.  I am looking at what other departments have been doing and will be working with management to establish a Terms of Reference which will lay the groundwork for a future committee.  This stems from issues that have been raised with regard to the lack of education and direction for both employees and management when someone identifies as having a mental illness.  It will raise awareness and provide help on what resources are/will be available to ensure those conversations are happening in a safe environment, private, and free from judgement. 

Phoenix

In 2017 Phil Choo and I took over the role of helping our members resolve their Phoenix issues in a timely fashion.  I have had many calls for support and in most cases, I worked with Compensation to get our members positive results within one or two pay periods.  In early 2018 I (with the AFS blessing) officially requested that CRA look for an alternative to the Phoenix pay system.  After two years, there is no end in sight for a permanent fix.  I have suggested that CRA investigate the current CAS system as a possible solution as it was tested to be a full fledge pay system in the early 2000’s.

Classification Reform

As part of the Collective Bargaining, an agreement was established where members of the AFS Classification Committee would meet with CRA’s Classification team to discuss classification reform for the AFS occupation classifications.  A preliminary review has shown that some of classifications have not been updated since the 1970’s and are in need of a close examination.  According to the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA), the four required elements for evaluating work are: Skill, Effort, Responsibility, and Working Conditions.  Part of our role is to ensure these elements are in fact part of every classification.