The election of the Rudd Government presents both opportunities and challenges for CPSU members and supporters over 2008.
"The CPSU is looking forward to establishing a positive working relationship with the Rudd Government," says CPSU National Secretary Stephen Jones.
"But we also recognise there will be many issues on which the union and Government will have different views which will need to be worked through.
"As always, our focus will be on winning the best possible outcome for the members we represent, regardless of who the Government is.
"The success of any CPSU campaign is always determined by the strength of our arguments, and the level of support we can generate in the workpace and the community. This will not change under Labor.
"We are keen to turn Labor's pre-election commitment to good faith bargaining into a workable framework in Public Service negotiations.
"How the new Rudd Government deals with its own workforce and their union representatives will set an example to the rest of the employer community. The Rudd Government has a unique opportunity to demonstrate real leadership in this area and show how a model employer should act," said Mr Jones.
While the end of WorkChoices is a positive development for Australian workers, the CPSU will be working with the ACTU to hold the Rudd Government to account in terms of delivering a better set of workplace laws.
Key bargaining issues for the CPSU in 2008 will include:
continuing to achieve strong pay and conditions outcomes for CPSU members
the right to negotiate a union collective agreement where a majority of employees want one
reasonable access to union support and advice in the workplace
fair transition arrangements for people currently on AWAs
access to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, the independent umpire
Over 2007, CPSU members won strong new union collective agreements in Customs, ACT Government and more than 40 other agencies.
Negotiations for new agreements in the Child Support Agency and the Northern Territory Government are ongoing and next year will see big campaigns in the Australian Taxation Office, Telstra, Centrelink, Defence and many other agencies.
The latest Trends in Federal Enterprise Bargaining report shows a stark difference between union-negotiated agreements and non-union agreements. Union collective agreements made in the last quarter averaged a 4.4% increase, while employee collective agreements achieved a 3.7% increase.
The figures prove, yet again, that it pays to be a union member and that public servants are getting above average pay increases.
