The Fair Work Commission has terminated strike action and bargaining for Department of Immigration and Border Protection staff, ordering a move to compulsory arbitration.

In a move that union figures say demonstrates the Federal Government’s inability to negotiate,

The Government was unsuccessful in advocating that arbitration be denied, with strikes only be temporarily suspended until late November, while they run a third employee vote, after employees have twice rejected cuts to rights and pay.

The move to arbitration follows a week of unprecedented strikes at airports, cruise ship terminals and cargo ports around Australia by DIBP staff causing significant disruptions at all hours of the day. In a dispute that has now stretched almost three years, strikes at Airports and other DIBP workplaces have been running for over a year.

The Community and Public Sector Union’s national secretary Nadine Flood said that strong strike action by DIBP members had forced the Government to act after its “unworkable” bargaining policy ground negotiations to a halt.

“This is good news for Immigration and Border Protection staff because there is finally a light at the end of the bargaining tunnel. It is also good news for travellers who could have seen the Government’s intransigence leading to more strikes and disruption in the Christmas holidays.

“The fact that union members had to take this sort of action to bring the issue to a head is a searing indictment on the failure of the Turnbull Government to deal sensibly with workers’ rights.

“We welcome the fact the Commission has determined it’s time to end this bargaining charade, at least for Immigration and Border Protection workers.”

Ms Flood said the case may have implications across the rest of the APS where around 100,000 workers have been without new agreements for more than 1000 days.

“Today’s decision sends a strong message to the Turnbull Government that its bargaining policy is broken” she said.

“We’re back in Fair Work next week with the broader Commonwealth dispute to argue that the Minister or a representative with the authority to act should participate in good faith bargaining to fix this mess.’

“The CPSU is ready to talk. The Prime Minister should get his Minister Michaelia Cash to pick up the phone so we can fix this mess and let the rest of the public service can get on with their jobs.”