Messages from your bargaining team

Hi my name is Adam Jackson and I’m the 2^nd National Vice President of the Union of Taxation Employees and I’m here to say thank you for casting your ballot if you have done so.  We want to issue a strong strike mandate to the employer to show them that with no movement on economic increases for our members, no movement on remote work, or the work-life balance issues that we have proposed to them, the employer is completely out of touch. We are going to send a strong message of solidarity that will get us the contract that we deserve. Thank you again.

Hi my name is David Lanthier and I’m the Regional Vice President for the NCR and a member of your UTE bargaining team.  The votes have been going on.  We have been seeing great turnouts and we are getting to hear a lot of comments about what’s going on in your workplace. We’re here fighting at the table to get you what you deserve. The employer has been constantly trying to downplay the union on the amount of demands and things we have at the table. That’s wrong. The reason we are at this table is because we want to get you what’s best for you, the UTE member, the people working out in the field, the people who have made CRA shine in the government through all the last few years, stepping up to the plate for all Canadians and we want to be respected. We want the employer to recognize and that is why we are asking you to please get out and support and do what you can to support us because we want to show this employer that we have you, the UTE members supporting us and helping us get you what you deserve. So please support your bargaining team in any way and when we come calling to you, we want you to come out in strong numbers to support and get what you justly deserve.

So, hello, my name is Eddy Aristil. I am the Regional Vice-President for the Montreal Region and a member of the UTE bargaining team. This is my second experience on this team and, like last time, we are turning to you to ask for a strike mandate, since it is with this mandate that we will go after the best possible employment conditions and the best possible wage offers. So, I would like to thank you for your unfailing support, and it is with you, all 35,000 members together, that we will obtain the best for the future. Thank you and have a good day.

Hi, my name is Brian Oldford. I’m Regional Vice President for Atlantic Canada. First, and I’m also on the collective bargaining team. First, I want to thank everybody who came out in person to our votes. All our in-person votes are done now. We had a fabulous turnout, unbelievable the amount of support we’ve received. Going forward we’re here to support you and get a fair contract. We are hoping we don’t have to go on strike but if we do, this is the only way this employer will listen to us. So, be prepared. The union is here to support you. If you have any questions, reach out to your local executives, reach out to myself and I’m more than willing to help you, because we need a fair contract. You’ve done a fabulous job for Canadians during the pandemic and this employer hasn’t even recognized that. Going forward, I need your help, I need your support. Thank you and thank you again. Solidarity.

Hi, my name is Andria Cullen. I’m the Regional Vice-President for the Greater Toronto Region, and I’m also part of the bargaining team. I want to thank you all for coming out to the in-person votes, also the virtual votes. I look forward to seeing you if we potentially go on the picket line. We have truly tried to assist CRA and management to ensure that everybody across Canada had the benefits and options available through the CERB program, through the emergency benefits, and we need to get a fair contract that reflects all the work that we have done through the pandemic. I hope to see you all on the picket lines if we get there, I really hope we don’t need to be there, but it could be an eventuality. So, I look forward to working with you all. If you have any questions or concerns definitely reach out to your local. Thanks very much.

Hi, I’m Jamie vanSydenborgh, Regional Vice-President for Southwestern Ontario and co-chair of our bargaining committee. Members from UTE that work at CRA from across Canada from Victoria, BC to St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador have been voting in strike votes both virtually and in person during this time. The turnout has been phenomenal, and the support has been overwhelming. Thank you very much for your support. We are ready to bargain, let’s get the employer back to the table and ready to bargain with us too. Solidarity.

Hi, I’m Ashley Green and I’m the president of the St. John’s TC, Local 90000 for UTE. I’m also a member of the bargaining team. If you’ve already voted, thank you so much for coming out. If you haven’t, I’d encourage you to do so. It’s really important to get involved with your union. We’re at the bargaining table. We’re fighting for your interests, and I know it can be stressful. Nobody wants to go on strike honestly, but I’ll tell you what, we don’t want to see you suffer, ever. Small pain, big gain. We have your interests at heart, my interests at heart, everyone’s interest at heart. So please, support your union as best as you can. If you don’t know where to turn, please go to the UTE website, ute-sei.org and reach out to your local. Somebody will get you in contact with an executive member and we will get you the information you need. If you have any questions, reach out: email, call, text. We are here for you. Thank you.