Strategic Initiatives

Re-Inventing

Over the past 15 years the Canadian government has been attempting to re-invent to simultaneously splitting governance and service delivery apart. The motivation for this is two fold:

  1. Obtain more "flexibility" in its human resourcing mechanisms
  2. Obtain more cost savings in its overall payroll costs

Flexibility

Flexibility translated meant the death of the "merit" based system of human resources. Essentially the "highest" qualified candidate would no longer be hired, but rather the best "fitting" candidate would be hired. The mechanism that accomplishes this was the creation of "alternative service delivery" organizations. Hence the creation of Commissions and Agencies like the Canada Revenue Agency.

As your Regional Representative I would develop a strategic plan regionally that could serve as a national model. I believe the AFS group needs to:


1) begin a grassroots/mobilization action plan to make the public aware of the benefits, work we do as professionals
2) reach out and form strategic alliances with other unions, accounting associations, educational institutions and so on
3) mobilize members to take part in activities that highlights our interests
4) call for the formal recognition of a professional accounting designation as the "professional standard" describe in the collective agreement in job classifications
5) call for the creation of an articling classification to be used for the development, coacing and mentoring members in their career advancement
6) take on an active role in assiting members in understanding and succeeding in the CRA human resourcing models being used

Normalizing CRA Pay

Since 1999, the impact on professionals in the CRA has been enormous. When the CRA was created, a Board of Management has been appointed whose role it is, is the creation of policies and guidelines that directs the operation of the organization. This Board of Managment is made up of the CRA Commissioner and members of the private sector - usually from a major corporate and accounting backgrounds.

Normalizing CRA pay and benefits with the private sector appears to be on the radar screen. How can you tell? Just look at what seems to be on the negotiation table:

  1. business expansion through PST acquistitions
  2. pension plans
  3. severance pay
  4. contracting out

Whats in the CRA Future?

  1. The existence of the union itself ( is the Rand formula up for negotiation or attack?)
  2. The degradation of the professional standard ( no need for designated accountants?)

If you have any questions please email me at John Bakator for more information. If you would like to take part in the discussion please register at our forum at www.pipcs.com.

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