APS reform talks were met with strikes this week. 

Strikes at both the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations have occurred alongside Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher's announcement of APS reforms.

The wage negotiations between the CPSU and the government have hit a roadblock, with both sides accusing each other of failing to offer a reasonable proposal. 

The government had put forward an 11.2 per cent wage increase, which the CPSU rejected. 

CPSU National Secretary Melissa Donnelly says union members want a fair pay raise without further delays.

The government's stance on fiscal restraint may be beneficial financially, but it raises political and systemic risks. 

Despite efforts to reduce reliance on contractors and consultants in the APS, there is still a significant challenge in recruiting an internal workforce capable of handling IT projects essential for agency operations. 

The potential inability to recruit qualified staff could lead to project delays or rehiring external labour.

Internally, there is growing discontent within the CPSU over the Labor government's handling of pay negotiations, with some members advocating for disaffiliation with the Labor Party. 

This internal discord could have significant implications for Senator Katy Gallagher, given the limited number of senators in the Australian Capital Territory.

While more strikes in various agencies are anticipated, the CPSU has successfully secured backpay guarantees for non-APS Commonwealth public sector workers. 

This achievement ensures that as non-APS employees transition to a common annual pay rise date in 2024, those entitled to pay increases before that date will not be disadvantaged.

The right to backpay was a key objective for the CPSU and was one of the improvements negotiated with the incoming Labor Government. 

Under the previous government, backpay was prohibited, which allowed agencies to delay negotiations.

Non-APS staff work in Commonwealth agencies not governed by the Public Service Act, such as CSIRO and ASIC. 

To be eligible for backpay, employees must vote on an enterprise agreement before March 14, 2024, and the vote must pass.