Australia's air navigation service agency is on the brink of a bitter industrial fight after staff backed strike action as frustrations grow over negotiations for a new workplace deal.
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Public servants at Airservices Australia voted in support for industrial action in a protected ballot that finished on Tuesday, raising the threat of strikes if bosses don't improve their pay offer and withdraw proposed cuts to conditions.
Airservices denied it was proposing to reduce conditions for staff and said it was trying to follow the Coalition government's strict workplace bargaining policy.
Eligible Airservices Australia workers voted 89.5 per cent in favour of strikes and more backed other action including overtime and other bans.
The main public sector union, representing critical support and administration staff within Airservices Australia, said the result put the agency's management and the Coalition on notice.
Community and Public Sector Union deputy national president Lisa Newman said workers were determined to protect their conditions and achieve a fair pay increase.
"Striking is always a last resort, however there will be industrial action in the near future unless management and the government change approach and start to treat workers with respect," she said.
Airservices bosses had resorted to cynical stalling tactics during negotiations, and delays were depriving staff of a pay rise. Workers had gone a year without a pay rise, Ms Newman said.
"This is an all too familiar tactic we have seen across the Australian Public Service as a result of the government’s harsh and unreasonable public sector bargaining policy," she said.
"CPSU members need a new agreement that maintains their conditions and includes a fair pay increase, so their wages aren’t going backwards.
"Airservices on the other hand is pushing another round of unreasonable cuts and offering virtually nothing in return, with a measly pay offer."
Airservices said it had been negotiating in good faith with staff to seek a simplified agreement that aligned with the federal government’s workplace bargaining policy.
"Our 2 per cent per year pay offer reflects that intent," a spokesman said.
Critical operational and safety services would not be disrupted by any staff industrial action, Airservices said.
