Staff at the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) could strike over their dissatisfaction with the government's wage proposal. 

Members of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) who work at DAFF have initiated legal proceedings to join broader strikes over wage issues.

It would be the third federal agency contemplating or engaging in strike action, with workers at Services Australia set to stage a 24-hour walkout next Monday.

The proposed actions at DAFF include a range of measures, such as unlimited overtime bans, hourly stoppages, and full-day strikes, contingent on approval by at least 50 per cent of CPSU members within the agency.

“All three actions are expected to have a significant impact on operations with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry,” the CPSU said in a statement.

“On-plant vets and meat inspectors have the crucial roles of protecting food safety and enabling the certification of Australian meat and meat products for export.

“The CPSU will continue to work with members and delegates across APS workplaces as they consider which agencies to look to next to increase pressure on the government.”

The recent escalation of strike actions follows the breakdown of bargaining talks last Thursday when all participating unions rejected the government's offer of an 11.2 per cent increase in wages over three years, deeming it insufficient. 

The CPSU has put forward a claim for a 20 per cent wage increase over the same period, aligning with the government's APS-wide bargaining framework, aiming to negotiate a comprehensive agreement rather than agency-specific deals as was previously practised.