In the latest blow to the anti-worker industrial policies of the federal Coalition government, staff in the Department of Human Services (DHS) have voted by 83% to reject an enterprise bargaining agreement offer from management. More than 78% participated in the ballot.
The overwhelming result in DHS follows strong votes in a number of other agencies recently, including Veterans Affairs, IP Australia and Health, to oppose agreements that would have attacked their rights, conditions and take-home pay.
More than 1000 workers participated in a lunch-time event on September 15 to kick off a new round of industrial action. Tony Abbott’s overnight departure as prime minister has only hardened their resolve to provide essential services. After the rally, Canberra-based workers at key agencies, including Human Services, the Tax Office, Immigration and Border Protection and Employment, went on a half-day strike
The action will be followed in coming weeks by further strikes and industrial action around the country that will affect service centres, call centres, international airports, ports and a range of other public service workplaces.
The Commonwealth Public Sector Union (CPSU) has called on incoming Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to take a new approach to help resolve the long-running dispute.
CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood told the lunch-time rally: “The government’s extreme approach on bargaining has left tens of thousands of mums and dads in the public sector in limbo, worried about what is happening to their rights and take home pay, while they struggle in jobs under pressure from cuts.
“Any way you look at it, the government’s public service bargaining policy is a smoking ruin that needs to be fixed. Close to 160,000 employees are still without new agreements after 18 months with unprecedented levels of industrial action, kicking off here in Canberra today with the rest of the nation to follow.
“As a first priority in the public service, incoming Prime Minister Turnbull needs the responsible minister to take real steps to resolve this long-running bargaining dispute.
“CPSU members have shown we are prepared to fight for a fair deal, but we are also interested in sitting down with the government and working towards sensible outcomes.
“We are asking Prime Minster Turnbull to take two steps. First, have his ministers sit down and talk with employees and their unions about your legitimate concerns and about the way to resolve this long-standing dispute. It is long past time to talk.
“Secondly, the bargaining policy which is forcing agencies to cut the rights, conditions and take-home pay of their staff, needs to change. Attacking the rights, conditions and real wages of everyday mums and dads with bills, rent and mortgages to pay is simply unacceptable.”
For more information on the CPSU campaign visit the website.
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