New Victorian public servants pay deal would offer reproductive leave

Victorian public servants will be offered period and reproductive leave for the first time under a new four-year pay deal set to be put to union members.

Period and reproductive leave will be offered to Victoria’s public servants for the first time under a new four-year pay deal to be put to a key union council on Monday.

In a Community and Public Sector Union bulletin sent to thousands of its members this morning the union said it was expecting the deal to be endorsed by the CPSU’s Victorian Branch Council on Monday afternoon.

It comes after two weeks of talks with the Allan government as part of ongoing EBA negotiations.

Under the plan workers will be entitled to an extra five days a year for reproductive leave on top of current health leave entitlements.

The letter to members from CPSU secretary Karen Batt outlined that the pay entitlements had already been agreed upon by members.

These can be used for issues that arise from menstruation, menopause and IVF and other reproductive health conditions.

The offer on the table also doubles current superannuation entitlements paid for maternity leave.

This includes topping up super for up to 104 weeks — up from 52 weeks — for a primary carer who returns to work within two years.

There is also terms for a new committee to be set up to look at “alternative ways of working”, which can include a four-day work week, work from home and flexible hours.

However, it’s understood the union has not been successful at getting the government to agree to a four-day work week trial, which it has been pushing in recent months.

The deal will apply to employees across the public sector for four years and includes a 3 per cent annual pay rise plus a 0.5 per cent bonus that would average $1400 per employee each year.

This is in line with the state government’s wages policy.

The headline agreement is expected to be welcomed by branch members and the government, although the CPSU declined to comment before the matter was put to council.

The letter to members from secretary Karen Batt outlined that the pay entitlements had already been agreed upon by members.

But it outlined new aspects of the deal which included “addressing Gender Equity agenda”

This included leave entitlements to recognise women’s health around reproductive rights, menstruation, and menopause, extending superannuation payments on parental leave to 104 weeks.