Federal government departments have had enough of protracted talks with their workforces on pay and conditions and want to get voting under way as soon as possible.

Departments have signalled they see little point in further negotiation with unions in light of the instructions from government to stick to the hardline Abbott-era bargaining policy, and are now pushing for ballots to try to get their public servants to finally accept the deals on offer.

Minister for Employment and Minister for Women Michaelia Cash at the National Press Club. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The news comes as the public service authorities claim the tide in the three-year dispute is turning in their favour, with about 250 public sector workers in four agencies accepting new pay deals since the election.

About 100,000 public servants are still holding out against the workplace deals they have been offered in a dispute that is now in its third year while about 50,000 federal government workers have agreed to sign up to new enterprise agreements offered under the bargaining policy.