APS-wide bargaining is well underway with the Australian Public Sector Commission (APSC) providing an update on its last three meetings.
Issuing the update, APSC’s Workplace Relations Bargaining Taskforce said the meetings kick-started conversations about employee support, initial aspects of leave and consultation and dispute resolution processes.
“These early bargaining meetings have focused on hearing from Unions and Employee Bargaining Representatives (EBRs) about their claims,” the Taskforce said.
“This includes framing discussions to understand the current state of play on certain conditions, where we’d like to get to and how to best achieve more commonality across the APS.”
It said the Chief Negotiator at the APSC, Peter Riordan, had raised a number of items for discussion at the meetings, including Blood Donation and Vaccinations; Employee Assistance Programs; Respect @ Work; Supported Wage Systems; Annual Leave; Purchased Leave; Long Service Leave; Consultation; and Dispute Resolution.
The Taskforce said that in addition to the items, Unions and EBRs submitted relevant claims for discussion and consideration, covering Safe Workplaces, Disability Leave, Integrity and Transparency and Consultative Committees.
“The Workplace Relations Bargaining Taskforce committed to further consultation with disability networks to inform further discussions about potential common terms,” it said.
“This consultation will occur over the next few weeks.
“Engagement in these meetings with Unions and EBRs have been constructive and insightful.”
The Taskforce said that at this stage, the discussions were not binding, “we will continue to work together to understand views and move forward in the APS Bargaining process.”
A list of items currently planned for future discussions can be accessed at this PS News link.
