A public sector union has urged the incoming government to change its enterprise bargaining policy, saying it has "destroyed morale" and failed to secure agreements.
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In the wake of a pre-caretaker 71 per cent no-vote for the Australian Taxation Office's most recent workplace proposal, the Australian Services Union's tax branch secretary, Jeff Lapidos, said the government should soften its approach to enterprise bargaining.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Lapidos said the current policy had failed to lead to an agreement, as well as "destroyed morale and distracted the ATO from its business".
"The government's policy has directed the tax commissioner to propose across the board cuts in employees' rights at work and conditions of employment," he said.
"This has been unacceptable to our union and to the ATO's employees."
Mr Lapidos said the earlier proposal, if agreed upon, would have transferred anti-discrimination and suitable work level arrangements from the enterprise bargaining agreement to the legislation, locking out the industrial umpire and instead moving disputes between the union and government to the Federal Court.
About 20 per cent of the public service workforce had signed up for agreements offered under the government's policy prior to pre-election caretaker mode.
The ATO employees' rejection of the workplace deal happened two days after Department of Defence staff rejected a pay deal 55 per cent to 45.
A spokeswoman from Employment Minister Michaelia Cash's office said the government's policy did not require agencies to cut conditions of employment in proposals.
"To suggest it does is false and it is disappointing that the ASU would provide incorrect information to its members when it should instead be focused on negotiating in good faith to conclude the ATO agreement which will deliver pay rises for ATO staff," the spokeswoman said.
"The government's bargaining policy is a fair and competitive offer, reflecting community expectations and fiscal constraints, and over 50 agencies have successfully voted up agreements under its terms."
Labor promised during the election to remove the enterprise bargaining policy, which was introduced under former prime minister Tony Abbott, as part of a strategy to lure voters in marginal seats with sizeable public sector populations.
At the time of the rejected deals at the ATO and Defence, union spokespeople said Labor's promise and the possibility of the Coalition losing government had played a part in staff decisions to dismiss the proposals.
Renegotiation on the ATO's workplace agreement have not yet been scheduled, with expectations planning will begin after ministerial appointments have been confirmed.
