Union’s Bid for Disability and Gender Affirmation Leave Rejected by Federal Government

Union members and their supporters take part in the 2021 Labour Day March in Brisbane, Australia, on May 3, 2021. AAP Image/Dan Peled

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has criticised the federal government for its lack of support for diverse workers, saying it brought into question the Albanese government’s commitment to being a model employer.

The comments from the CPSU come after the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) rejected several proposals put forward by the union around leave entitlements for disabled and transgender public servants.

According to the CPSU, the union had put in a claim for 10 days of disability leave and 30 days for gender affirmation care.

“The Albanese Labor Government has consistently touted its commitment to becoming a model employer, but the rejection of proposals that are directly linked to diversity undermine that,“ CPSU National Secretary Melissa Donnelly said in a media statement obtained by The Epoch Times.

“The APS could be an employer of choice for people with a disability. But failure to provide disability leave, which is available in other state public sector workplaces, sidelines that and the opportunities that come with it.”

The union said that the 10 days of leave would recognise that people with a disability have a range of medical and other appointments and are “often unfairly forced to access sick leave for reasons relating to disability.”

This meant that those living with disability are then often left in a “precarious situation” should they actually fall ill as they have no entitlements and are often left with few options.

Gender Affirmation Care Also Refused

Ms. Donnelly also said that the federal government’s decision to reject gender affirmation care, which is an emerging entitlement in the private and public sectors, was also disappointing.

Gender affirmation care is defined as health care that covers a range of social, psychological, behavioural, and medical interventions that enable an individual to affirm a gender identity that conflicts with their biological sex.

The CPSU said their claim for gender affirmation leave would build on existing entitlements in the Victorian Public Service, Northern Territory, Tasmanian Public Service, and Australian Capital Territory government and would place the APS on a more even playing field with private-sector employers that already offer this entitlement.

Currently, in Australia, several large corporations offer gender-affirming leave, including the Bank of Queensland, ANZ, Telstra, Salesforce, Allainz, Origin Energy, Big W, and Woolworths.

“Union members are understandably surprised and deeply disappointed by their employer’s unwillingness to work with the union to foster a more inclusive and diverse APS in these important areas,” said Ms. Donnelly. 

“We urge the federal government to reconsider these decisions, and we will be continuing to work with our members to deliver a better outcome for them and the APS.”

APSC Employment Offer Previously Rejected

The government’s rejection of the proposals comes after the union rejected the government’s most recent pay offer that would have seen Australian public servants receive a 10.5 percent pay rise.

CPSU had called for a 20 percent pay rise over the next three years, with public servants receiving a nine percent pay rise during the first year, followed by a six percent in the second and five percent in the third.

Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher, herself a former CPSU organiser, has said she expects there to be ongoing disputation between the government and the union as part of the bargaining process.

Ms. Gallagher announced on May 9 that the Albanese government would be embarking on an ambitious reform agenda for the APS.

“The Albanese Labor Government is making the necessary investments in the 2023-24 Budget to continue the job of rebuilding the service after ten years of neglect under the former Coalition government,” Ms. Gallagher said.

“The APS performs a critical role in our democratic system, it should be valued by the government and be focused on serving our citizens.”

As part of the 2023-24 Budget, the federal government will spend $10.9 million (US$7.3 million) to establish an in-house consulting function, $8.4 million to build the capability of the APS to address service-wide challenges, and $3.4 million to support the government’s commitment to achieving five percent First Nations employment by 2030.

Additionally, they will also spend $195.6 million to provide faster services and help address the backlog of claims for veterans through enhancements to the Department of Veterans.