Sudbury tax centre union kept in dark about CRA restructuring

The union representing workers at the Sudbury tax data centre doesn't see last week's announcement of new jobs as good news.

As part of a national shake-up of its processing centres across the country, the Canada Revenue Agency plans to hire the equivalent of 650 full-time workers at the Sudbury processing centre in the next two years.

But fewer other details have been released and that includes to the Union of Taxation Employees.

National president Bob Campbell says he was "shocked" to hear the restructuring announcement, especially after the recent conclusion of four years of contract negotiations.

"Finally sign a contract and then a few weeks later, five weeks before Christmas, they make this announcement. Like, is there any thought or consideration for what you're putting your staff through?" Campbell says.

Campbell says he knows that 106 full-time workers in the collection/verification department at the tax centre have been told they're losing their jobs and that they'll be offered new positions, but haven't been given any details.

The Canada Revenue Agency declined CBC's request for an interview, but in a statement last week said that this means "more stable year-round permanent" employment in Sudbury.

But Campbell isn't so sure, since the plan calls for Sudbury to become one of two taxation centres focused on the processing of tax returns, most of which is done by seasonal employees.

He says at one time, about 30 per cent of the workforce was part-time or "term" employees, but that is closer to 40 or 50 per cent now. 

Campbell says there are about 1,600 at the Sudbury tax centre now, where in years past, it employed as many as 2,500.

"It's a lot of stress on the employees that are working there, because you never know if you're going to get recalled. We have term employees that have been working 7, 8, 9 years," he says.  

"If you're a term employee, try going to get a mortgage, try going to get a car loan."