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Suggested topics for inclusion in a ministerial brief and in an email to the APSC
providing draft EA for information or support
TITLE: Outcome of negotiations for [insert enterprise agreement name in full] (the
Agreement)
Background
Enterprise agreement making for Australian Public Service (APS) employees is guided by the
Government’s policy set out in the Australian Public Service Bargaining Framework (APS
Bargaining Framework).
The Government introduced a new APS Bargaining Framework on 31 January 2011.
The APS Bargaining Framework now requires that agencies seek the approval of a draft
enterprise agreement from the Special Minister of State for the Public Service and Integrity
(SMoS) prior to it being put to staff for approval via an all staff vote.
The proposed bargaining position was advised to you, and received your support/endorsement
on (if applicable) on [insert date] and approval of that position was obtained from the
Australian Public Service Commission (APSC)/SMoS on [insert date].
Negotiations commenced on [insert date] by the issuing of the Notice of Employee
Representational Rights and XX meetings with bargaining representatives were conducted.
Negotiations have now concluded / been exhausted and in-principle agreement has/has not
been reached (insert relevant detail if agreement has not been reached).
The [insert enterprise agreement name in full] has been drafted in preparation for the
APSC’s assessment against the APS Bargaining Framework and for final approval by the
APSC or the SMoS as appropriate.
A copy of the draft Agreement is at Attachment A.
Issues
As a result of good faith bargaining, the final draft agreement has terms as follows:
• Pay increases – bargaining commenced with the position of [insert initial approved
position amount] and the resultant pay increases are [insert percentages and effective
dates];
• Allowance increases - bargaining commenced with the position of [insert initial
approved position amount] and the resultant allowance increases are [insert
percentages] per annum;
• Bonus payments - bargaining commenced with the position of [insert initial approved
position amount] and the resultant bonuses are [insert bonuses and amounts];
• Increases in lieu of performance bonus payments to remove ongoing access to
performance payments - bargaining commenced with the position of [insert initial
approved position amount] and the resultant outcomes are [insert details];
• Increases to staff currently paid below the fifth percentile of APS salaries for their
classification - bargaining commenced with the position of [insert initial approved
position pay points and effected employee numbers] and the results are [insert pay
points and effected employee numbers];
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• A nominal expiry date of [insert date] as approved in the bargaining position / different to
the approved nominal expiry date of [insert approved NED].
Either: The terms and conditions do not differ from the approved bargaining position or
The terms and conditions differ from the approved bargaining position in the following
respect:
• Insert detail, including how the outcome compares to the approved bargaining position
and the recommended terms and conditions. Provide any rationale for the departure etc.
The outcomes are the result of negotiations through good faith bargaining and are able to be
funded from within existing appropriation, without the redirection of program funding, for the
proposed life of the enterprise agreement. The signed Funding Declaration is attached.
The improvements in remuneration that are different to the approved initial bargaining
position are offset by the following genuine, quantifiable productivity improvements;
• [insert brief outline of identified productivity initiatives]
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