Staff at the National Library of Australia have rejected a revised pay offer as the cultural institution continues to deal with federal budget cuts and an ongoing efficiency dividend.
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The vote was rejected by three-quarters of the 81.6 per cent of staff who voted on the agreement, with union officials describing the vote as a reflection of their frustration.
The library expects to shed more than 20 jobs by June 30 with additional redundancies to follow in 2017-18. The library will also reduce the number of international print and online subscriptions available to members.
CPSU Deputy Secretary Beth Vincent-Pietsch said the pay offer was similar to those at other agencies – 6 per cent shared over three years.
"Scores of jobs representing irreplaceable knowledge and experience have either been cut or are on the chopping block, including 22 at the National Library," he said.
"To make matters worse, this just rejected agreement also included cuts to conditions around redeployment and retention periods.
"Considering management's redundancy plans this no vote ensures they have the best protections when faced with a macabre version of musical chairs, because when the music stops, those without positions will lose their jobs."
The saving measures were detailed in a letter to staff from National Library director-general Anne-Marie Schwirtlich last month, who said the efficiency dividend and budget cuts would have a grave impact on the cultural institution.
"The savings required of the library over almost 30 years have had a significant impact on the library's operations and services," she said. "The additional savings we must make in 2016-17 and beyond will have a grave impact."
The letter, obtained by Fairfax Media, reveals the library must find $4.4 million of savings by the end of the 2017-18 financial year, including the $1.5 million of savings required by the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook Statement.
The library will also cease aggregating content in Trove from museums and universities unless it is fully funded to do so.
Ms Vincent-Pietsch said staff at the library joined other public servants who have rejected the revised pay agreements on numbers occasions, including those at Defence, Human Services, Immigration and the Tax Office.
"A 75.1 per cent no vote from these National Library staff is a clear and unequivocal rejection of what was an ugly offer from their bosses, particularly for those with parental and other responsibilities," she said.
"The extent of this mess is underlined by the fact that after two years more than eight out of 10 people working in the public sector, some 130,000, still don't have a new agreement.
The no votes comes amid strikes at international airports across the company by immigration and customs staff, who are seeking to end a two-year deadlock on pay and condition negotiations.
