The release of the Government’s updated pay position in service-wide bargaining negotiations, sets the scene for a wider debate on wage increases in non-Australian Public Service organisations, such as CSIRO.
While executive bargaining representatives have yet to table a proposal for salary increases at CSIRO, Staff Association members will have the opportunity to consider the progress of issues up for negotiation – including pay – during national workplace meetings in September.
Through the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC), the government has been in negotiations with CPSU for a uniform pay rise and select common conditions across Australian Public Service (APS) agencies; a process that will strongly influence enterprise bargaining outcomes across the Commonwealth.
The APSC’s second pay offer in service-wide bargaining 11.2 per cent over three years (4% in the first year, followed by 3.8% and 3.4%).
This builds on the APSC’s first offer in May of 10.5 per cent (4% in the first year, followed by 3.5% and 3%) over three years; a position that was soundly rejected in a subsequent poll of CPSU’s APS members.
CSIRO pay was the number one issue nominated by staff as part of an enterprise bargaining survey conducted last October, which attracted more than 800 participants from across the organisation.
The Staff Association’s pay position – endorsed by union members and mirroring CPSU’s APS claim – is 20 per cent over three years (front loaded and comprised of annual increases of 9,6 and 5%).
CSIRO Executive bargaining representatives have not yet tabled their pay position at negotiations.
Developments in SWB will have an impact on the negotiated outcomes in non-APS organisations such as CSIRO. Over coming weeks, CPSU members in APS agencies will consider the updated pay offer in addition to improvements to core conditions achieved in SWB negotiations.
Similarly, Staff Association members are encouraged to attend a workplace meeting in September to consider the progress of priority issues in CSIRO negotiations including pay, superannuation, working conditions and consultation rights.
If Executive release a CSIRO pay proposal in the meantime, the Staff Association will conduct a poll of union members on the issue, to occur concurrently with the meeting schedule.
Regardless, formal talks will continue between Staff Association negotiators and Executive bargaining representatives.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday 4 September.
Staff Association members with comments or suggestions are encouraged to contact the union by email, or speak to a workplace delegate or organiser.
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