Immigration Department bosses are in line for a second pay rise in eight months, while lower level workers still struggle in a bargaining dispute.

Department of Immigration and Border Protection secretary Mike Pezzullo has awarded staff in the top-level senior executive service band an immediate 2 per cent increase to their pay.

It comes after another 2 per cent rise was announced in November last year.

The CPSU says it is a slap in the face for department workers, who have seen no new money in their four-year dispute over pay and conditions.

“These two no-strings attached pay rises – 4 per cent in eight months – clearly show there's one set of rules for senior executives and another set for staff working on average or below average wages while struggling to keep up with their mortgage payments and living costs,” CPSU Deputy National President Rupert Evans told Fairfax.

“Secretary Mike Pezzullo's email to advise senior executives of their good fortune says they deserve a pay rise for the department's achievements – such as issuing millions of visas and seizing drugs, guns and other contraband – yet the people who've actually carried out this work continue to get nothing.

“This frustrating and unfair situation in DIBP is in marked contrast to the bargaining progress that's been made in the rest of the Commonwealth public sector in 2017, as bosses have recognised that retaining existing rights and conditions is the key issue for their staff.”

The Immigration Department says the CPSU is misleading workers.

“The CPSU continues to mislead staff through its communications and has been unwilling to constructively engage with the department on any matter,” a spokesperson said.

“The CPSU has actively campaigned against the quantum of pay increases the department has offered staff through these enterprise bargaining ballots. It has, instead, pushed for terms and conditions to be set through arbitration at the Fair Work Commission.”

The department says the pay rise for senior staff reflect the same offer rejected by rank-and-file employees.

“SES increases are consistent with the requirements of the APS Bargaining Policy and SES remuneration outcomes in a range of other APS agencies.

“Staff in the vast majority of Commonwealth agencies have now voted up enterprise agreements that delivers a 2 per cent average pay increase each year.”