Civilian defence staff to protest over pay

Civilian Defence staff will take industrial action after being offered pay increases of just one per cent and in some cases being knocked back altogether.

They also face losing two days leave.

Civilian staff were excluded when Prime Minister Tony Abbott retreated from his lower-than-inflation pay raise for uniformed personnel earlier in March, bumping up an initial offer of 1.5 per cent annually to two per cent.

The Community and Public Sector Union says the industrial action in May will include work bans and stoppages of up to 24 hours.

It's the 11th public sector agency taking or preparing for industrial action.