Civilian staff at more than 70 Defence bases and offices across Australia will walk off the job for an hour today over stalled pay talks, reports the ABC.
The staff are among more than 80,000 public servants who have rejected the Federal Government's latest pay offer.
A number of agencies have already taken industrial action, including staff at Parliament House who held stoppages on Tuesday.
According to the ABC, the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) says staff have been offered a 3 per cent wage rise, well below increases in the the cost of living
CPSU national secretary, Nadine Flood, says that it will be the first time in more than 20 years that Defence staff have taken industrial action.
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She told the ABC that the strike will not affect soldiers or overseas military operations.
"This is significant. These actions are very much a last resort. But the fact that this is going on so widely across the country does indicate that Defence and the Government have a real problem," she reportedly said.
Ms Flood says staff will attend protest meetings and are calling on the Secretary of Defence to intervene.
She says structural reform and job losses in the Department of Defence are putting more pressure on staff.
"People are being asked to do more with less, for less. We are keen to settle this matter, but until the Secretary approaches Government and there is a better offer, this action will continue and potentially escalate," she told the ABC.
Ms Flood says that the action represents growing frustration across the Commonwealth public service.
