APS Bargaining: consultation findings

The Workplace Relations Bargaining Taskforce within the APSC undertook focus group consultations with all APS agencies in November and December 2022. Representatives from every APS agency of all job family types and size by number of employees, were invited to participate in the consultation process.

The APSC’s consultation with APS agencies sought views around the matters agencies considered appropriate for negotiation as common terms in APS enterprise agreements, and which matters should appropriately continue to be bargained at agency-level.

Views from agencies were also sought about how the service-wide bargaining process should be conducted. This included views about the most efficient manner to communicate bargaining progress to both agencies and their employees in a timely manner. Agencies were also asked specific questions including who they thought were their biggest competitors for employees in the context of the current complex labour market for skills and experience.

Consultation with APS employees was also undertaken in January 2023, as facilitated by an APS-wide survey of staff to obtain their views and priorities for service‑wide bargaining. The survey asked staff what employment conditions matter the most to them, and what conditions they think should be standard across the APS.

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