APS bargaining - frequently asked questions
What is enterprise bargaining?
Enterprise bargaining involves formal negotiations between an employer, employees and unions for an enterprise agreement. The aim of the bargaining process is to negotiate employees’ terms and conditions of employment, including pay.
Enterprise bargaining in the APS operates in the national workplace relations system established by the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act). Further information can be found on on Fair Work Commission website.
What is an enterprise agreement?
An enterprise agreement sets the terms and conditions of employment, including pay, made between an employer and employees, following negotiations between representatives.
Representatives may include unions or other employee representatives. In the APS, the employer is the Commonwealth of Australia acting through the relevant the Agency Heads as the ‘employing authority’.
Your agency’s last enterprise agreement can usually be found on your agency website, or you can ask for a copy from your HR area.
What is the difference between APS and non-APS agencies?
APS agencies employ staff under the Public Service Act 1999 (PS Act). Non-APS agencies are Commonwealth public sector entities that employ staff under enabling legislation other than the PS Act. Some agencies have groups of employees who are employed under the PS Act, and other groups who are employed under other enabling legislation. If you are unsure whether your agency is APS or non-APS, you can find out more information on the Department of Finance. website.
What is APS bargaining and agency-level bargaining?
There will be two components to APS bargaining:
- APS-wide bargaining— which aims to negotiate a set of common terms that will apply to employees in all APS agencies, and continue steps towards reducing fragmentation of pay and conditions across the APS.
- Agency-level bargaining— agencies will still be able to negotiate terms that best support their needs and operating model.
Will all APS employees be covered by the same enterprise agreement?
No, all APS employees will not be covered by a single enterprise agreement. APS agencies will continue to have their own separate, single-enterprise agreement. However, agency-level agreements will be required to include any common conditions negotiated during APS-wide bargaining.
How can I stay up to date as bargaining progresses?
APS employees will be provided an opportunity to complete a survey to inform the work of the APSC Bargaining Taskforce.
Updates on the general progress of APS bargaining will be available on APS Bargaining and this will continue throughout the bargaining process.
Where can I find out more about enterprise bargaining generally?
Visit the Fair Work Commission or Fair Work Ombudsman website.