Under pressure from an industrial campaign by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), the Turnbull government has announced it will lift its cap on wage rises for federal public sector workers from 1.5% to 2%.
The government is maintaining its hard line on stripping existing workplace rights and conditions.
Only a handful of government agencies have so far this year reached EBA settlements with their workers.
CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood said on October 21: 鈥淲e've made it clear all year 鈥 both at the negotiating table and beyond 鈥 that this dispute could be resolved if the government moved away from cutting rights, conditions and take-home pay, with some move on real wages.
鈥淥n pay we are closer with this move from government, with workers seeking 2.5% to 3%, with some recognition of the stresses on family budgets caused by an 18-month wage freeze.
鈥淥n rights and conditions, we're up for a real discussion, but the government appears uninterested. And on cuts to take-home pay, the government has as yet said nothing to the thousands of workers scared about being able to pay their bills.
鈥淭he government's shift in position and some willingness to talk are positive signs, but we're not there yet in resolving this long-running dispute.
鈥淲e're seen 80% to 90% of workers in major agencies voting No to these agreements, with significant industrial action 鈥 moving to 2% for the same loss of conditions won't fix this mess.鈥
Like the article? Subscribe to 91自拍论坛 now! You can also us on Facebook and on Twitter.