Dear Members,
It’s with deep concern and a heavy heart that I write to you today.
Many of you have reached out with questions, fears, and growing frustration. Between the looming threat of Work Force Adjustment (WFA), potentially without Guaranteed Reasonable Job Offers (GRJOs) and the deeply unsettling rise in violence in our city, we are all navigating an incredibly difficult time.
On Friday, another shooting happened in our city. This time, it was at King and James, right around 5:30 p.m. when many of us are wrapping up our day and heading home. A young woman, an innocent bystander, was killed while walking or taking the bus.
To date, the employer has said nothing. No acknowledgment, no plan, no genuine concern. Our members are worried about their own safety and the employer says nothing about this incident as it is business as usual. They could offer Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to give comfort to those affected. People are afraid, unsure, and look to their employer for guidance. That is why the union is writing to you today.
This tone-deaf approach is unacceptable. Our members’ safety, both physical and psychological, must be a priority not an afterthought.
Our union has made it clear to the employer: remote work is a practical, proven, and necessary solution. Working from home saves the employer millions of dollars, supports public service delivery, and most importantly, keeps our members safe. We are fighting to protect this right and ensure your wellbeing is not treated as expendable.
At the same time, we face the growing risk of WFA. We were previously told that no further adjustments would occur this summer yet vague warnings and shifting language have now placed hundreds of federal workers, including many in our local, in a state of fear and uncertainty. This is not how a modern, respectful workplace operates.
Let’s be clear: we are proud public service workers. We want to do meaningful work for Canadians by supporting parents, seniors, vulnerable families, and those who depend on us for tax and benefit services. We believe in a modernized CRA, but not one built on broken trust and sacrificed livelihoods.
We are not backing down. We are looking out for your safety, your job, and your dignity.
Always in solidarity,
Gina Degner
President, UTE Hamilton Local 00014