The Department of Human Services has encouraged staff to consider its July 2015 pay offer and revised enterprise agreement, which have been tabled during bargaining today.
“The department is now offering a general pay increase of 4.5% over the 3 year life of the new agreement, with 1.5% per year in 2015, 2016 and 2017,” said General Manager Hank Jongen.
“Following staff feedback, this offer is no longer conditional on the department maintaining a workforce profile staffing ratio of 1 executive level staff member to every 9 APS-level staff.
“The July 2015 pay offer also includes a performance-based salary advancement for eligible staff of 1.5% per year in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
“Under the 2011-2014 Agreement, those staff who are eligible will also receive up to 2.75% salary advancement in 2015 – before the proposed start of the new enterprise agreement in September this year.”
Mr Jongen said since releasing the February pay offer, the department has been listening to feedback from staff and considering where it could be applied to the department’s draft agreement and pay offer.
“In addition, the Australian Public Service Commissioner advised in April he was able to consider a broader range of productivity initiatives than before,” Mr Jongen said.
“This has allowed us to reassess what productivity initiatives and savings could be included in both the pay offer and the draft agreement, and as a result, many conditions in the 2011-2014 Agreement have been maintained, such as keeping working hours at the current level of 37.5 hours per week and retaining the existing accrual of personal/carer’s leave.
“We’re encouraging our staff to take the time to read through the offer and draft agreement so they understand the proposed changes and are well informed ahead of staff discussions on the new offer in the coming weeks.”