The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) is offering Public Service employees a 10.5 per cent pay rise over three years as the APS-wide bargaining program continues.
Issuing the pay offer, Chief Negotiator for APS-wide bargaining at the APSC, Peter Riordan said the offer represented the largest pay increase that APS employees would have received in over 10 years.
Mr Riordan said that if accepted, employees would receive a four per cent boost in the first year, 3.5 per cent in the second year and three per cent in the third year.
“As an example, an APS employee who currently earns a salary of $95,873 would receive a total pay increase of $10,421, taking their annual salary to $106,294,” Mr Riordan said.
He said the offer took into account recent wage outcomes across Australia, numerous economic indicators, the current labour market, and Budgetary considerations.
“We will continue negotiations on pay claims and other matters such as flexible work arrangements and various leave types to develop a package that meets the needs of agencies and employees,” the Chief Negotiator said.
“In addition to the proposed headline pay increase, we will seek to take initial steps to reduce pay fragmentation,” he said.
“Proposals on pay fragmentation will be discussed in a bargaining meeting in late May 2023 and may provide additional pay rises for employees in agencies with the lowest pay scales.”
Mr Riordan said a breakdown on how this offer would impact APS employees at different classifications was available on the APSC website.
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) is urging members to vote on whether they believe the offer is good enough.
“The ballot will close on 30 May – your bargaining team needs your clear feedback to take back to the APSC and respond to the offer,” the CPSU said.
“The CPSU bargaining claim, endorsed overwhelmingly by members, is for 20 per cent over three years (nine per cent in the first year, six per cent in the second year, and five per cent in year three),” it said.
“Now it’s up to you to tell us whether the Government’s offer is good enough,” the union said.
The APSC’s pay increase breakdown for every classification can be accessed at this PS News link.
