The Federal Government has finally released the new rules for bargaining, and they’ve shifted the goal posts for non-Australian Public Service agencies, including CSIRO.
A key feature of The Australian Government Public Sector Workplace Relations Policy 2026 pushes out the start date of all new non-Australian Public Service (non-APS) agency agreements; which can now not commence before March 2027. This will ensure that non-APS negotiations are finalised after outcomes are settled for APS bargaining.
That will affect CSIRO, as the current enterprise agreement (EA) is due to expire in November 2026 and a replacement deal was expected to operate from that date for the next three years.
However, precise guidance on how to facilitate this change to the bargaining timetable is still to be revealed, with the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) expected to issue interim arrangements for non-APS agencies caught up in the policy shift.
Staff Association negotiators met with representatives from Executive following the public release of the policy. We’re in the process of developing a thorough analysis and detailed questions on the implications for CSIRO, ahead of another meeting next week.
The union remains committed to a genuine bargaining process and we continue to seek the commencement of negotiations so that the views of CSIRO employees are represented and listened to. Our preparation has been extensive, and our comprehensive bargaining claim has been developed by members, for members.
See below for more information or download the complete Staff Association claim here.
According to the APSC website, “the Public Sector Workplace Relations Policy 2026 provides that a non-APS agency must not put in place a new comprehensive collective arrangement that commences before 1 March 2027.”
“The APSC will issue guidance about interim arrangements for non-APS agencies that have agreements with nominal expiry dates that fall before the common APS nominal expiry date of 28 February 2027.”
“The interim arrangements will enable affected non-APS agencies to realign their bargaining cycles so agencies, employees and their representatives can bargain with more certainty around APS-negotiated outcomes and the Commonwealth pay offer.”
In an email to staff, CSIRO Executive said that to realign the bargaining process to comply with the new rules, the organisation expects to issue a determination to increase salaries (and linked allowances) by six or twelve months, from 20 November 2026.
“This payment will be a percentage increase in base salaries delivered by a determination under the Science and Industry Research Act 1949. However, the Government has yet to advise the amount of the interim increase, and the announcement is expected within the next few weeks.
“We are waiting for the details of the interim payment to be released before choosing which deferral option to take, including if there will be a top-up payment if APS negotiations result in a higher increase than the interim increase.”
While the Bargaining Policy sets the framework for bargaining, it does not change the claim we’ll be fighting for at the bargaining table.
The Staff Association bargaining claim’s principles include:
Citing cost of living as “a significant concern for CSIRO employees,” the union claim states that “wage outcomes must ensure that CSIRO can attract and retain the skills it needs to deliver for the Australian community.”
The claim calls for wage increases of 5% in year one, 5% in year two and 5% in year three.
The Staff Association has also proposed a “cost-of-living adjustment payment of $3,000 in any year of the agreement where the Consumer Price Index (CPI) exceeds the headline wage increase for the year, measured at an agreed point in time… any cost-of-living adjustment that is paid will count as salary for all purposes, including superannuation.”
Throughout CSIRO bargaining, our workplace and bargaining representatives keep union members interested, informed and engaged.
If you are not yet a member, join the Staff Association today and make sure your views are represented in CSIRO bargaining.