Every few years, when their Enterprise Bargaining (EB) Agreement expires, union members have the opportunity to improve their working conditions, wages, and contract terms in the Queensland Public Service. This process is called collective bargaining or EB negotiations. The EB Agreement and its terms will continue to operate after the expiry date until a replacement agreement is certified. To make the most of this opportunity, it is essential for union members to understand how collective bargaining and negotiations work, and how they can actively engage in shaping their next EB Agreement. What does collective bargaining mean? Collective bargaining is the process through which workers, as union members, negotiate with their employers to establish fair terms and conditions of employment. This includes aspects like wages, benefits, working hours, job security, and workplace safety. By coming together and joining their union, workers have more power to advocate for their rights and improve their working conditions. During the process, employers and unions engage in negotiations to try and find solutions that benefit both sides. What are the steps in collective bargaining? PHASE 1: GETTING READY Union members decide what improvements they want to make to their working conditions and wages. They do this by talking to their colleagues, sending out surveys, and holding union meetings. Union members create a list of proposed improvements for their Enterprise Bargaining (EB) Agreement. This list is called a Log of Claims. Union members create a plan for how they will work together to win improvements. This might include: • A plan for how they will get their colleagues involved; and • Deciding what steps to take if the employer doesn't agree to their requests. 👉 Take Action: Join Together Today If you’re not yet a union member, now is the time to join. Being part of our union ensures you have a say in the bargaining process and strengthens our ability to secure better wages and conditions for everyone. 📌 Click here to join us today and become part of a union that wins for workers. PHASE 2: NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EMPLOYER Union delegates meet with the employer to negotiate the proposed improvements. In these meetings, delegates present evidence to the employer about why these improvements should be made. PHASE 3: CAMPAIGN ACTION The employer will make an offer to union members, showing which improvements they agree on and which they don’t. Union members then vote on whether to accept the offer by voting Yes or No. If the employer agrees to all of the proposed improvements, congratulations! You will get a pay rise and better working conditions. However, this is rarely the case. If union members do not accept the employer’s offer, they take action to grow their union power and show the employer how important it is to improve working conditions and wages. This could include: Wearing a sticker that shows what they are campaigning for Asking the community for support for their campaign Putting up posters about the campaign Attending a rally at the workplace Once the majority of union members accept an offer from the employer, bargaining ends. A new EB Agreement is created, setting working conditions and wages for the next few years. Why joining your union is important for collective bargaining. The strength of the union comes from its members. Every conversation, survey response, and action members take contributes to our collective power. Let’s start the year strong by working together to prepare for bargaining. Share this with your colleagues and ask them to join you in making a difference to your working conditions and wages this year!
When you take your hard-earned annual leave, there’s a little extra in your pay packet: leave loading. But this bonus isn’t just a perk handed out by employers—it’s a right fought for and won by union members, past and present. Leave loading reflects the power of collective action and the importance of being part of a union. What is Leave Loading? Leave loading is an additional payment of 17.5% of your base pay, paid when you take annual leave. For Queensland public servants, it’s designed to help cover the costs of holidays, whether that’s travel, leisure activities, or simply making ends meet while you take a well-deserved break. But leave loading didn’t always exist. It’s a direct result of union campaigns to secure fairer pay and conditions for workers. Before this entitlement, workers who took leave often faced financial hardship due to lost overtime or penalties—making it harder to take the breaks they needed. Union members recognised this issue and fought for change, negotiating leave loading into awards and agreements. 👉 Take Action: Join Together Today Entitlements like leave loading didn’t come easy, and they won’t stay without a fight. By joining Together, you’re helping to secure not just your rights, but the rights of future generations of Queensland public servants. 📌 Click here to join us today and become part of a union that wins for workers. Together, we’ve done it before—and we’ll keep doing it, with you on board. How Union Members Won Leave Loading The concept of leave loading was first established through collective bargaining and industrial action. In the 1970s, unionised workers across Australia campaigned for the right to leave loading, arguing that holidays should not come at the cost of financial security. Their persistence paid off, with leave loading becoming a standard entitlement for many workers—including Queensland public servants. Over the years, unions like Together ASU have ensured that leave loading remains a protected benefit, resisting attempts to erode or diminish it. Every time your union negotiates a new certified agreement, leave loading is reviewed, safeguarded, and adjusted where possible to reflect contemporary needs and economic conditions. How is Leave Loading Calculated? For public servants, leave loading is calculated as 17.5% of your ordinary weekly wage, capped at a certain amount specified in your industrial agreement. For instance, if you take four weeks of annual leave, you’ll receive an additional payment equal to 17.5% of four weeks of your regular earnings—subject to the cap. Here’s an example: Weekly base pay: $1,500 Leave loading rate: 17.5% Leave loading per week: $1,500 × 0.175 = $262.50 If you take two weeks of annual leave, your leave loading for that period would be $262.50 × 2 = $525.00. Remember, caps may apply to the total amount of leave loading you can receive. These caps are periodically reviewed, so it’s worth consulting your latest agreement or union representative for up-to-date figures. Why Leave Loading Matters Leave loading is more than just an extra payment—it’s a symbol of the victories unions have achieved for members. It allows public servants to take time off without financial strain, contributing to better health, well-being, and productivity. Without unions, benefits like leave loading wouldn’t exist. It’s a testament to the power of collective action: when workers stand together, they can achieve what seems impossible. Are You Receiving Your Full Entitlement? Leave loading is calculated as 17.5% of your base pay and is subject to a cap outlined in your industrial agreement. If you think you might not be receiving the full amount, your union can help. Together members have access to expert advice and advocacy to ensure their entitlements are protected. Why Union Membership Still Matters Leave loading is just one example of how union membership improves the lives of public servants. It’s not just about protecting existing conditions—it’s about fighting for more. Every time a new agreement is negotiated, union members ensure their voices are heard, pushing for better pay, improved conditions, and stronger protections. By joining Together, you’re part of the collective power that defends and enhances these rights. Membership ensures that when issues arise—whether it’s underpayment, unfair treatment, or changes to your entitlements—you have the support and expertise of your union behind you.
Wages have become the top issue for union members in 2022. Union members in the public service have an unprecedented opportunity to campaign together to change government wages policy in 2022. At the same time, union members across the country have been campaigning for award wage rises that keep up with the cost of living. This morning the Fair Work Commission determined that workers needed a wage increase of 4.6%, well above the state government's wage policy of 2.5%. The Fair Work Commission has also awarded a flat dollar increase of $40 per work, which is higher than 4.6% and further protects low paid workers. The decision shows that workers cannot afford a wage increase of only 2.5% when prices are rising faster than they have for over two decades. A 2.5% increase for Queensland public sector workers- in line with current government policy - with inflation taking off is a wage cut in real terms. Union members have said that's simply not good enough. Be part of the campaign - register here. With most of the public sector renegotiating their EB agreements this year, there is a real opportunity for the collective strength of union members to change the state government's wages policy. Queensland public sector workers have been able to bargain for wages above their award. They have won these higher rates through their collective power in campaigns. That is why this year workers across the public sector and across unions will be campaigning for fair wage increases with a simple message that wage increases must at least match the increases in the cost of living. Next week, members in Health, Education, TMR and more will be holding virtual meetings across Queensland to kick off the campaign for fairer wages. They will be coming together with members of other public sector unions to call on the state government to change wages policy so public sector workers don't fall behind. Already 1500 members have joined the campaign - will you be part of this change? These meetings will be held in Queensland hospitals, TMR centres, TAFEs, schools and more with a simple message that wages must keep up with cost of living. It's not too late to register to attend a meeting in your workplace. Click here to join the campaign and register to attend.
