The Federal Government’s bargaining policy has been accused of failing the public sector. 

The Morrison Government’s public sector bargaining policy dictates that the maximum pay rise available to any APS employee is tied to the plummeting wage price index for the private sector. 

It deals a double blow to APS employees who have been enduring a wage freeze under the Coalition Government. 

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the National Indigenous Australians Agency have both proposed removing certain staff consultation rights. 

Furthermore, the Prime Minister’s own Department, Prime Minister & Cabinet, refuses to guarantee paid leave for staff affected by family violence, or staff who do the vital work of volunteers on the front lines of disaster. 

It is also looking to remove the paid support for charity work in the community that PM&C currently provide.

“On every issue, the Prime Minister says one thing and does the opposite,” says Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) national secretary Melissa Donnelly.

“He says he supports the vital work of volunteers - then interferes with the ability of people to do that work in their communities,” she said.

“He says he supports women’s right to be safe – but impedes agencies from guaranteeing the paid Family and Domestic Violence leave that we know is a crucial support for women attempting to leave unsafe situations.

“He says he wants the economy to bounce back but he hampers that recovery by keeping wage growth down.

“The Prime Minister doesn’t hold a hose – and apparently, he doesn’t want his staff to either.'

“This is Scott Morrison’s problem to solve. Public sector staff who supported the community through one of the most trying years in our history want one simple thing: for the Prime Minister to do his job so that they can keep doing theirs.”