The Collective Agreement Between the CRA and its Employees in 2017

The Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) is a federal government agency responsible for administering tax laws and collecting taxes for the government. The agency employs thousands of people across the country to carry out its mandate, and every few years, it negotiates a collective agreement with its employees.

In 2017, the CRA and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), which represents a large portion of CRA employees, reached an agreement after a lengthy negotiation process. Here are some highlights of the agreement:

Salary Increases

The agreement included salary increases of 2% per year for four years, starting in 2014. This means that employees received a 2% increase in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. In addition, employees received an additional 0.8% increase in 2016 and 2017, for a total of 8.8% over the four-year period.

Leave and Benefits

The agreement also included improvements to leave and benefits for CRA employees. For example, employees now have access to five days of paid leave for family-related responsibilities, such as caring for a sick child or attending a child`s school event. In addition, employees who are parents of newborn or adopted children receive an additional five weeks of parental leave.

The agreement also introduced improvements to bereavement leave, sick leave, and vacation entitlements, among other things.

Workplace Health and Safety

The agreement included a commitment from both the CRA and PSAC to improve workplace health and safety. This includes regular joint training sessions and the establishment of a joint health and safety committee to identify and address hazards in the workplace.

Conclusion

The collective agreement between the CRA and its employees in 2017 represented an important milestone in the ongoing relationship between the agency and its workforce. Through the agreement, employees received significant salary increases and improvements to their leave and benefits, while the agency committed to improving workplace health and safety. These improvements help to ensure that the CRA is able to carry out its mandate effectively, while also providing a fair and respectful workplace for its employees.