The Community and Public Sector Union has said it will escalate its campaign against the federal government's bargaining position following months of fruitless pay negotiations.

The CPSU governing council has voted to endorse the use of protected industrial action which would range from work bans, to stoppages, strikes and other campaign activities.

The union said it intended to send a strong message to the government, and its members would now be asked to fill in ballot papers to seek protection for industrial action before strikes commence.

CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood said not a single government agency had been able to present an acceptable agreement to staff.

"The government is targeting important rights that public sector workers have built up over decades, including superannuation, fair wages and decent conditions," she said.

"Today we say 'no'. We will not accept cuts to the rights and conditions of 165,000 public sector workers.

"Taking industrial action is a last resort and we would prefer to resolve this issue at the bargaining table. But this government is refusing to sit down with us to try and find a sensible outcome. Instead it has chosen to attack public servants and the CPSU."

Ms Flood said Commonwealth agency heads were under instructions from Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service Eric Abetz not to make any pay deals which did not cut conditions.

"We remain willing to talk but we have had nothing from this government, and minister Abetz is refusing to meet," she said.

Mr Abetz's spokesman said he had met the union several times.

"The CPSU should abandon its excessive 12 per cent pay claim which is unsustainable and out of line with community expectations, and which will cost 10,000 jobs," he said.

"Strike action in support of this claim in the current economic climate is highly irresponsible."