The Labor Government has announced significant changes for the Australian
Public Service, including an important announcement on pay, and a better
approach to bargaining and consultation.
These announcements are a substantial shift from the previous Government’s
approach to APS bargaining and industrial relations.
CPSU members have long campaigned for genuine bargaining across the public
sector and to re-establish consultation and representation rights. The
Government’s announcements represent real progress for APS employees on
these matters.
However, the Government’s interim pay position of 3% falls short of cost of
living pressures and we need to campaign together to ensure we get the
outcome members deserve in centralised service-wide bargaining.
What do each of these changes mean?
Interim pay rises for APS employees
- The Government has announced an interim pay increase of 3% for APS
employees who are due a pay rise between 1 September 2022 and 31 August
2023. If your agency is due a pay rise within that period that is less than
3%, it will be topped up to 3%.
- 3% is an improvement on the previous government’s wage caps, freezes and
delays.
- However, 3% does not keep up with cost of living increases. We need to
turn this into real, long term gains for all APS staff by campaigning for
the outcomes that members deserve in centralised service-wide bargaining.
A return to genuine bargaining
- The Government has announced centralised service-wide bargaining for the
APS.
- In recent times wage caps, wage freezes, and bans on conditions
improvements have left little to no room to negotiate with genuine
decision-makers.
- Centralised bargaining means genuine negotiations directly with APS
decision-makers, and the gains we win will apply to employees right across
the APS. It also means we can start addressing the disparities in wages and
conditions that have developed across the APS.
Consultation rights restored
Your right to representation
What happens next?
Paid time meetings
These changes are significant, and it’s important that employees have a
strong voice and role in how they are implemented in each agency. The CPSU
will be requesting paid time meetings to discuss the changes with
employees.
Bring strength to the table
Winning the right to genuine bargaining is a good start, but it is only the
beginning. What we can achieve depends on the strength we bring to the
table, and that strength is determined by our membership.
Now is the time to join your union or to ask your colleagues to join with
you.
We need to know what you want in bargaining
If you haven't already be sure to take our bargaining survey to have your say on pay.
When we come to develop the union’s claim for bargaining, only CPSU members
get to have a say and have a vote.
Join now so that you’re ready to be involved.
Workplace resources
Poster - Your rights restored
Flyer - Your rights restored