Strike storm clouds loom for govt services

Australian Bureau of Meteorology staff are taking "low-level" industrial action as a three-year-long pay conditions dispute with the federal government continues to build.

Workers at the BoM who are members of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) aren't tweeting or doing media appearances on local radio in the first taste of a larger industrial action planned for September 9, a CPSU spokesman said.

The BoM workers will continue the action until the September strike action.

The CPSU flagged the industrial action last week, saying it was the result of a 1000-day dispute with the government and a failure to deal with member concerns.

"These workers are prepared to compromise but they're absolutely determined to get a decent outcome," CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood said.

"That's why we're taking a multi-pronged approach to settle this unfair and protracted dispute by getting the Turnbull government to fix its public sector bargaining mess."

The planned action will result in workers from several government departments, including Human Services, Defence and Prime Minister and Cabinet, going on strike for 24 hours.