Commonwealth public servants have been invited to provide input as the Australian Public Service Commission presses ahead with the introduction of APS service-wide bargaining.

The APS last year established a taskforce  to oversee the development of a comprehensive workplace relations policy to guide the transition.

The move to allow bargaining for common terms marks a substantial shift from the previous government’s approach, and is viewed by the APS as a first step in addressing pay fragmentation across the service.

In an open letter to the APS on Friday, Deputy Commissioner, Workplace Relations Bargaining Taskforce Peter Riordan urges  employees to complete an APS-wide survey and provide feedback on the employment conditions that are most important to them, and the ones they think should be standardised.

Principles guiding APS bargaining were endorsed by the public service  minister Katy Gallagher last November.

The APSC says it has already undertaking significant consultation with APS executives, chief negotiators, HR specialists and unions.

It anticipates it will have a comprehensive policy for bargaining for common core terms and conditions by early this year.

APS employees who haven’t received the survey should email WRreform@apsc.gov.au.