After short and sharp industrial escalation, the Community and Public Sector Union has secured an improved pay offer that it will recommend to its members.
The government has today offered an additional payment to employees that is the equivalent of 0.92% of an employee’s salary. In Services Australia this amounts to $724 for an APS4, $933 for an APS6, and $1119 for an EL1. This is achieved by bringing forward the first pay rise from 14 March 2024 to 21 December 2023.
Employees would receive this payment as a lump sum as soon as possible after a successful enterprise agreement ballot, and not have to wait for Fair Work Commission approval of the EA, due to the expected timing of ballots.
The last CPSU membership poll saw 52% of members vote in favour of the pay package, with feedback from members revealing they were satisfied with the conditions package but wanted to see the government do better on pay.
The union made a call to reject the offer and quickly increase industrial pressure on the government to fight to secure an improved pay deal for members while they weren’t risking delays to pay rises.
The union will now run a member poll where every CPSU member in the APS will have the opportunity to vote on the revised APS wide package. The poll will close at midday on Thursday 30thNovember.
Quotes attributable to Melissa Donnelly, CPSU National Secretary:
“The CPSU has been able to negotiate an improved pay deal for APS employees, without losing any negotiated conditions or delaying pay rises.
“In our last membership poll, 52% of members supported the package put forward by the government with feedback revealing that while members were happy with the conditions that had been negotiated, they thought the government could do better on pay.
“We had a narrow window to fight for a better pay deal where we would not be delaying bargaining outcomes, and we made the most of it.
“CPSU members trusted us to reject this offer and since then have voted up Protected Action Ballots, gone on strike and stood in solidarity with their colleagues taking industrial action across the APS.
“Together, CPSU members demanded more from the Albanese Government and together they have secured more.
“This is a package that will deliver APS employees strong, industry-leading conditions, improved pay and a financial boost without delay.
“The union recomm
