DEWR to join APS Industrial Action as pressure grows 

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has today applied for a Protected Action Ballot for members in the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR), which is the agency that provides industrial advice to Government, including on enterprise bargaining and wages policy.

This application is the fourth since bargaining began, and the third since the union rejected the Albanese Labor Government’s revised pay offer, which was just a 0.7% increase on the first tabled offer of 10.5% over three years.

DEWR union members will be voting to participate in 2 separate actions: 

1. An unlimited number of stoppages of work for periods of up to and including 1 hour.
2. An unlimited number of stoppages of work for periods of more than 1 hour and up to and including 24 hours.

Once successful, union members in DEWR will then be able to take those actions as they push for an improved pay offer.

The CPSU will continue to work with members and delegates across APS workplaces as they consider which agencies to look to next to increase pressure on the government.

Quotes attributable to Melissa Donnelly, CPSU National Secretary:

“Service-wide bargaining is a unique opportunity for the government to negotiate a pay and conditions package that brings together a fragmented and disparate APS.

“The CPSU wants to see a package on the table that APS employees can proudly get behind, and we believe the Government want that too. 

“There is a clear and simple fix here.

“The conditions package that has been negotiated contains industry-leading working from home rights, an increase to casual loading, significant improvements to paid parental leave and enhanced job security provisions. 

“But APS employees have been clear in communicating that they want to see the government improve the pay offer.