On May 4, 2023, the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) and their employer, the federal government, reached a tentative agreement that officially ended the 15 day strike. According to a statement from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the CRA received more than what they bargained for before the strike occurred. This agreement promises workers a “compounded increase” in their pay by 12.6 per cent over a four-year period, and employees can expect to receive a $2,500 payment as well.
The CRA went on strike April 19, 2023, which affected more than 35,000 employees. Represented by the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE), which is part of the PSAC, the CRA made different demands to their employer. This included allowing employees to work more remotely, “a 22.5 per cent raise over three years,” and “an immediate nine per cent adjustment” to ensure that they are on par with others in the same line of work.
As part of the tentative agreement, federal employees now have the option to work remotely, depending on their circumstances. Regarding CRA employee income, the PSAC provided a breakdown of how the compounded increase in wages will add up to 12.6 per cent from 2021-2024. Other benefits from the deal include more job security and seniority, where “preference shall be given to PSAC-UTE members over outside contractors.” According to the agreement, CRA employees can also “request the ability to start work as early as 6 a.m,” allowing them to schedule their work day to fit their needs.
Additionally, employees will receive paid time off “for family-related responsibilities.” As a safety net against inflation, this tentative agreement will last for four years instead of the proposed three. According to a statement from the CRA, the proposed agreement “also includes measures to further support employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, such as a new benefit for Indigenous employees who will now have access to paid leave to participate in traditional practices.”
Marc Brière, national UTE president, was quoted as saying in an interview with CBC that “Finally, we can say that we got a decent contract for our members, and they deserve it.”
Rachel is working towards a BA with a concentration in English and Theatre. She has been employed at The Cascade since Fall 2021 as a Staff Writer and a Jr. News Editor. Currently, she is the sectional News Editor and enjoys meeting and interviewing people as well as taking long walks in nature. Rachel also likes to stay up to date on the latest trends and informs students through her fashion column entitled Campus Fashion.
