It`s hard to fit 117 years of achievements into a brief summary - but we gave it a shot anyway.

In the Beginning

The first meeting of the CPSU, (then known as the Victorian Public Service Association) took place on 17 June 1885 when 1,000 colonial public servants crammed into the Athenaeum Hall in Collins Street. We already had 1900 members prior to this first general meeting.

Ever since that meeting the CPSU has worked towards improving the terms and conditions of employment of Victorian Government employees. 

Early Claims

In the early days of the Union our claims included:

• The establishment of an independent Appeals Board
• Protection for temporary officers
• Long service leave
• The living wage - an adult male rate 21 yrs rather then 26 yrs
• Sick leave

A History of Improving Conditions

1916 we campaigned for and won the passage of the Political Rights Bill. which ensured that it was no longer a criminal offence for public employees to chair and speak out at meetings, ask questions of political candidates, or to join a political party.

1918 we took the first step towards gaining equal pay for equal work when a case was won to improve the pay of women teachers from 1/3 of the male rate to 4/5

In the 1920's we won fortnightly pays, ceasing the payment of public employees on an annual stipend

1926 Superannuation was first established as an entitlement by the Union and backdated to 1924. Paid sick leave of 6 days per year was also won

1936 the Union won its members the right to cumulative sick leave and the principle of a Higher Duties Allowance

1937 the Union fought for a 5 day working week

1945 the Union won members the right to 2 weeks annual leave

1951 members entitlements to annual leave were extended to 3 weeks

1962 the case for equal pay for work of equal value was commenced before the Public Service Board

1963 Long Service Leave was successfully improved from 6 months after 20 years to 4 months after 15 years service

1969 the union finally achieved its equal pay claim - introducing 85% of the male wage as of 5th October 1969 for female rates of pay and 100% from 1st January 1972

The early 1970s - Paid maternity leave was achieved during this period

During the 1970's and 1980's over 50 general salary revision claims were made as well as the establishment of a number of state and federal awards covering statutory authorities

1973 the union succeeded in increasing annual leave to 4 weeks

By the early 1990's all that had been achieved was under threat with the election of the Kennett Government. Individual contracts of employment [Victorian] were introduced, State Awards abolished, annual leave loading removed, access to arbitration requiring employer consent

On 11 December 1996, the AIRC delivers its arbitrated decision establishing an Interim [VPS] Federal Award including retrospective annual leave loading to 4 March 1994, and a 10% wage increase with 7% retrospective to 25 November 1995.

CPSU Today

Over a century later the CPSU continues its task to protect and improve conditions of Victorian Public Sector employees. Many of the entitlements won by the CPSU in the past are taken for granted by employees today, but they didn't appear out of thin air. Protect the wins of the past and contribute to the improvements of your own employment in the future.