Public service union members have rejected the ACT Government’s latest pay and conditions offer. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
It’s back to the drawing board for the ACT Government as public servants vote ‘no’ to a 9 per cent pay rise over three years.
A total of 5928 people (51 per cent of eligible workers) voted on the latest ACT Public Sector Enterprise Agreement bargaining round – the third offer put forward since negotiations began.
Of that, 63 per cent (3741) voted no to the proposed salary increases, which also included a $600 cost-of-living payment if the ACT’s annual CPI reached 3.5 per cent or higher, increasing to $1000 if CPI hit 4 per cent or higher.
New leave conditions and entitlements on the table included expanded access to parental leave for both parents, increasing the cap on personal leave (without the need for evidence) to 10 days, increasing rest relief to a minimum of 10 hours (including travel time between shifts), and introducing a new clause addressing the use of AI in the workplace.
Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) regional secretary Maddy Northam said this confirmed the message union members have pushed all along: “this offer is not enough”.
“This result belongs to every member who took action, stood together and refused to accept a deal that would leave workers worse off,” she said.
“The Barr Government now needs to come back to the table with a fairer offer – one that recognises the value of public sector workers and delivers real improvements on pay, superannuation and flexible work.”
This vote was specifically on the ACTPS Administrative and Related Classifications Enterprise Agreement 2026-2029, which forms the basis of the other enterprise agreements under negotiation.
CPSU members have escalated action in recent months, with sonographers walking off the job to secure better pay.
Ms Northam said protected industrial action would continue.
“We will keep the pressure on until ACT public sector workers have an agreement that does not send them backwards,” she said.
“CPSU members are putting this government on notice. Table a reasonable pay offer or face extensive industrial action across the service.”
The Health Services Union, ASMOF and CFMEU are among other unions that have applied to the Fair Work Commission for protected industrial action.
CFMEU general services officers recently expanded their partial work ban on weekend litter picking to now cover Gungahlin, Belconnen, Braddon and Kippax.
ACT assistant secretary Michael Hiscox previously said workers would keep campaigning until they received a deal that “properly” addressed cost-of-living pressures.
“Prices have risen 3.5 per cent over the year while the government is offering workers 3 per cent,” he said.
“At current inflation, that means a real pay cut. Canberra’s frontline workers don’t deserve to go backwards.”
Public Service Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the rejected offer was a “genuine attempt” to reach a fair and balanced agreement.
“[It contained] a pay rise above the projected rate of inflation over the next three years and substantial improvements in conditions,” she said.
“This result comes at a time when we know workers are facing cost of living pressures and ongoing uncertainty about inflation and interest rates.”
Ms Stephen-Smith said the government had heard the feedback from union members and would continue to negotiate in good faith.
“We’re committed to delivering an outcome for workers while continuing to manage the ACT budget in a responsible way,” she said.
“We understand ACT public servants are also keen to see an outcome sooner rather than later, so we’ll be working quickly on the next steps forward.”
Original Article published by Claire Fenwicke on Region Canberra.
