The union for federal government workers has been accused of using the public as pawns in their push for a pay rise.

Australian Border Force (ABF) staff are taking part in strike action at eight of Australia’s international airports, as the disagreement between the CPSU and government negotiators continue.

CPSU secretary Nadine Flood gave an update on the issue this week.

“We have made the decision to restart significant industrial action, given that discussions with Government have not produced any meaningful move on cuts to these workers' rights, conditions and take-home pay,” she said in a statement.

“Last month 91 per cent of border protection staff — that's more than 10,000 people — voted no to an unfair agreement that cut the take-home pay of many staff by $8,000 a year or more,” she said.

Public Service Minister Michaelia Cash said the union was exploiting the public.

“The travelling public, whether they're in Australia or they're people coming to Australia as a tourism destination, are quite frankly being used as pawns by the CPSU in what is nothing more and nothing less than an ideological argument,” she said.

“I’m disappointed the CPSU has opted for industrial action rather than sitting down with their individual departments.

“To date participation in industrial action has not been high despite the assertions of the CPSU.”