Lloyd unleashes on legal action
The public service says the sector’s main union has been wasting time.
Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd has lashed out at “time wasting moves” by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), saying the union’s attempted actions against ten agencies and departments had failed.
Mr Lloyd is claiming victory after legal actions were adjourned for conciliation conferences.
Mr Lloyd's agency will still attend the conferences, but the commissioner does nto expect there to be any bargaining.
The CPSU called for bargaining orders against agencies including the Australian Taxation Office, Defence, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Environment and Energy, Agriculture, the Bureau of Meteorology, IP Australia, the National Disability Insurance Agency and the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency.
The union alleged they were not bargaining in good faith.
A dispute relating to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection was also included in the action, but has now been sent to compulsory arbitration by the Fair Work Commission.
The union tried to bring public service minister Michaelia Cash into the meetings as a bargaining agent under the Fair Work Act.
“The CPSU attempted to draw the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service into the dispute and failed,” the commissioner said in a statement.
“The union agreed to the removal of the Minister as a respondent to its application.
“I am bemused that the union appears to be claiming this as advancing its position.”
Mr Lloyd accused the union of wasting the time of public servants who were keen to vote on new agreements.
“The CPSU's time wasting moves are putting potential pay rises for tens of thousands of public servants at risk of not being received before Christmas. Public servants are tired of the union's games and delaying tactics,” he said.
“Most want to vote on new agreements and get on with the job.
“Since the federal election, 12 out of 13 agreements put to a vote have been accepted by employees.
“This includes agreements for the Australian Electoral Commission, the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Special Broadcasting Service and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
“In total, 68 new agreements have been voted up in 64 agencies.”