ACT public servants say they do not want to make a deal that puts their safety at risk, but do want progress on talks preventing them from receiving back-pay.

The ACT Government and prison officer's union are deadlocked over a plan to introduce a needle and syringe program at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

The Government wants prisoners to be able to exchange needles safely to stop the spread of blood-borne diseases.

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) says workers cannot get access to thousands of dollars in back pay owed to them while the stymied negotiations keep running.

The situation has been muddied by a clause in the prison guards’ workplace agreement, which means the needle program requires consultation and agreement from unions.

It is a clause that ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has spoken against.

“The prison officers would like to determine whether or not a government policy gets implemented and ... that's not a privilege or a right that we extend to any other workforce,” she said.

CPSU spokesperson Vince McDevitt said the clause could be changed to only require the support of a majority of staff.

“This is a really significant compromise,” he told the ABC.

“This really does pave the way for the Government to have a fair dinkum conversation with their workers about their proposals.

“The Government would need to convince 50 per cent plus one of people who work in the prison before they could implement a needle and syringe program.”

ACT Corrections Minister Shane Rattenbury says he will reply to the proposed adjustment in the workers’ agreement in coming days.