Changes and challenges with the new Labor Government
17 January 2008, 2:54pm
Over the holiday period CPSU has been busy working with the new Government to begin the complex task of creating a new industrial relations framework for the Public Sector.
New agreement making rules by February
Following the election result, the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has stopped applying the previous government’s Bargaining Policy Parameters. New agreement making arrangements now need to be agreed and over Christmas, CPSU Officials started talks with Ministers to achieve this. This week Acting CPSU National Secretary, Margaret Gillespie, held a follow up meeting with DEEWR Secretary Lisa Paul and agreed to begin detailed discussions next week. Your union anticipates that new arrangements will be implemented next month.
WorkChoices restrictions still apply
The existing Work Choices legislation still governs all bargaining in Australia. Until amendments are passed by both houses of Parliament, all bargaining will continue to operate under the constraints imposed by the current laws. Meanwhile, DEEWR has issued two advices that guide Agencies on how to deal with AWAs. More information here.
CPSU action on Machinery of Government changes
CPSU has met with every Agency affected by the MoG changes. Five new Departments were created and a determination protects those employees’ pay and conditions, while your union seeks to negotiate new collective agreements. We are also working closely with all other affected members to ensure pay and conditions are protected. Bedding down MoG changes takes time and CPSU has established consultation processes with all affected Agencies to ensure your concerns are addressed. To find out about your Agency visit our agency page.
What about the increased Efficiency Dividend?
Prior to the election Labor announced an additional 2% efficiency dividend on top of the standard 1.25% for the financial year 2008-09. CPSU responded immediately, opposing the new dividend and urging Labor to identify services and policies it wanted delivered and to resource the public service appropriately. In response Labor provided assurances concerning no forced redundancies and implied a number of areas in the public sector would be quarantined from cuts, including front line service delivery.
Squaring up to the Government on budget cuts
Recent media comments from the Minister for Finance, Lindsay Tanner, suggests the new government now intends to go further and cut an additional $2.5 billion from the public sector. It also appears that some Agencies will try to bring cuts forward to the March quarter before the May budget, with DFAT leading the way with 43 axed jobs. Your union is defending public sector jobs and has sought an urgent meeting with the Finance Minister.
Establishing new ground rules
To improve members’ access to union advice and support, CPSU believes Agencies should genuinely recognise and respect the role of workplace delegates and allow staff to speak to organisers without artificial barriers. CPSU’s message to the new government and public sector management is that we believe a cordial and professional relationship should be the hallmark of industrial relations in the public sector. There are promising signs of a genuine change in the way you’ll be able to communicate and discuss workplace issues with your union in the future.
Have your say
If you have any comments or queries please email rights@cpsu.org.au or contact our Member Service Centre on 1300 137 636.
i am currently on an awa and i have grave concerns what will happen in the change over process. i believe that the union should negoiate with the government so that staff are transferred across at the same pay leveleg if my current pay is equivalent to a sog cpay point 6 then i should transfer across to that level. i definatekly don't think that i or anyone else in my situation should have to forgo pay rises until others catch up . looking forward to your repy
Posted by: Nancy S - 25 Jan 2008, 11:06am
Not on these direct subjects, but NOW is the time for all Public Sector unions to work with Superannuands' organisations to get the indexing of our superannuation changed from the current indexation.
We need to have all current and past staff aware of how far we slip behind once retired and involved to get a joint action for correction early in this government's term. Current policy is an absolute disgrace and allows Commonwealth employees to slip their relativity to a lifestyle cutting extent over the period of likely retirement, which can be expected to be at least 15-20 years for age retirement at 60 -65 years.
WE NEED UNION ACTION ON THIS
Yes I know that there is a lot on everyone's plate right now, but this affects every single current and past Commonwealth officer and needs to be flagged and pushed. Even the dumbest person can see that the current system is grossly unfair but we will never get the general population to support us as so many have such a cockeyed view of public servants, even though they can't do without us.
Regards,
Posted by:denise - 25 Jan 2008, 11:04am
HI yah That sounds promising
Hope they consider a) when neg occurr we receive back pay for the length of time they take.we have missed out buy govt stalling talks( Its pathetic.)
b) changes in COMP laws reviewed (no cover at lunch or tea's) pathetic.
c) more humanity shown by gov re sick leave etc c/l agency has reduced many rights (unlike ato etc why is c/l one of the worst paid govt agencies?? we need cpi again & not have every payrise linked to KPI for sick leave(most sick leave is out out of our control ie carer's etc need to address why its high) area s/east vic uses a scheme of having to be accoutable for every sick day eg if 2 days in 2 mths in a row a form is filled out with team leader cso & now area leader to work out a "plan" hope u know about it.it's so unfair other area's don't have this plan .its very formal thanks for reading about my whinges
Posted by:Shona - 25 Jan 2008, 10:57am
I expect my comment relates to Workchoices legislation however I would like to provide feedback about paying my Union fees. I really have a strong preference for them to be deducted from my wages like they were before.
Kind regards and thanks for all the work you do.
Posted by:David (DEFENCE) - 25 Jan 2008, 10:55am
I am an unionist and if they are going to make people redundant why isn't the union making the redundancy packages 4 weeks for every year unlimited in the number of years worked. I am at present in this situation and it would be good to leave with a decent package.
i am currently on an awa and i have grave concerns what will happen in the change over process. i believe that the union should negoiate with the government so that staff are transferred across at the same pay leveleg if my current pay is equivalent to a sog cpay point 6 then i should transfer across to that level. i definatekly don't think that i or anyone else in my situation should have to forgo pay rises until others catch up .
looking forward to your repy
Not on these direct subjects, but NOW is the time for all Public Sector unions to work with Superannuands' organisations to get the indexing of our superannuation changed from the current indexation.
We need to have all current and past staff aware of how far we slip behind once retired and involved to get a joint action for correction early in this government's term. Current policy is an absolute disgrace and allows Commonwealth employees to slip their relativity to a lifestyle cutting extent over the period of likely retirement, which can be expected to be at least 15-20 years for age retirement at 60 -65 years.
WE NEED UNION ACTION ON THIS
Yes I know that there is a lot on everyone's plate right now, but this affects every single current and past Commonwealth officer and needs to be flagged and pushed. Even the dumbest person can see that the current system is grossly unfair but we will never get the general population to support us as so many have such a cockeyed view of public servants, even though they can't do without us.
Regards,
HI yah
That sounds promising
Hope they consider
a) when neg occurr we receive back pay for the length of time they take.we have missed out buy govt stalling talks( Its pathetic.)
b) changes in COMP laws reviewed (no cover at lunch or tea's) pathetic.
c) more humanity shown by gov re sick leave etc c/l agency has reduced many rights (unlike ato etc why is c/l one of the worst paid govt agencies?? we need cpi again & not have every payrise linked to KPI for sick leave(most sick leave is out out of our control ie carer's etc need to address why its high)
area s/east vic uses a scheme of having to be accoutable for every sick day eg if 2 days in 2 mths in a row a form is filled out with team leader cso & now area leader to work out a "plan" hope u know about it.it's so unfair other area's don't have this plan .its very formal
thanks for reading about my whinges
I expect my comment relates to Workchoices legislation however I would like to provide feedback about paying my Union fees. I really have a strong preference for them to be deducted from my wages like they were before.
Kind regards and thanks for all the work you do.
I am an unionist and if they are going to make people redundant why isn't the union making the redundancy packages 4 weeks for every year unlimited in the number of years worked. I am at present in this situation and it would be good to leave with a decent package.