Members of the CPSU NSW working for disability service provider Aruma voted alongside other colleagues to reject an offer by their employer.

“Aruma circulated its wish list draft agreement to staff without consultation and while there are still significant outstanding issues being worked through,” said Assistant General Secretary Troy Wright.

“The outstanding NO vote of 92 per cent comprehensively rejected an agreement that would drastically reduce take home pays and conditions.”

Mr Wright said Aruma issued a 352-page document to members “with limited time to consider the information”.

The proposal would have seen cuts to existing penalty rates and some allowances with sleepovers dropping from approximately $130 per shift for a Level 2.4 support worker to $60.

Cuts to penalty rates for shift allowances and weekend work were also proposed.

CPSU NSW urged members to vote no to the proposed agreement and to recommend a no vote to non-members.

Once the vote concluded, CPSU NSW asked to recommence bargaining to try and improve the next offer to staff. Aruma proposed to restart bargaining for the week commencing 23 February 2026. Then, Aruma changed its mind and bargaining is again in limbo.

While all unions with members in Aruma are actively promoting having the Fair Work Commission assist in a collaborative approach program to progress bargaining, at the point of writing, Aruma remains uncommitted to this proposal.