ACCORDING to a new survey an overwhelming 90 per cent of military personnel strongly oppose the Abbott Government’s 1.5 per cent a year pay offer.

To save money the government also wants to cancel the traditional day off for the Christmas stand-down enjoyed by Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel.

The online survey by the unofficial military trade union — the Defence Force Welfare Association — began last Friday and by yesterday afternoon had received an unprecedented 7800 responses as well as 33,000 Facebook hits.

Association executive officer Alf Jaugietis said he had never seen anything like the pay survey.

“It will top 10,000 responses,” he said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the decision was unfair and he has written to Prime Minister Tony Abbott asking him to reconsider the paltry pay rise under a new Workplace Remuneration Agreement (WRA).

Mr Shorten said Australia asked its uniformed personnel to defend the country and protect its national security.

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“The very least the Commonwealth can do is accord them pay and conditions that properly recognise their service and sacrifice,” he wrote.

“I urge you to reconsider this pay offer and do all you can to ensure a better pay deal for our service men and women — one that is fair and equitable.”

In the survey the troops, who unlike other workers are barred from voting on pay deals, were asked how satisfied they were with the proposed pay rise.

In addition to ticking the “dissatisfied” box more than 7400 posted comments on the sub-inflation pay offer.

Many said they had not even heard about the offer until last week despite an expensive taxpayer funded national “road show”.

“Why do we have to give up so much individually yet only get 1.5 per cent per year?” a uniformed member commented.

“When will our politicians lead by example by doing the same thing they expect the rest of us to do?” another said.

The Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal will be asked to approve the pay rise — a step down from the three per cent annual rise troops have enjoyed in recent years — tomorrow.

The Association will include the survey results in its final submission to the tribunal.

Defence Force Chief Mark Binskin, on a visit to the Australian forward operating base in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, said negotiations had been difficult to get even a slight pay rise to offset increasing costs.

“I can tell you, what we got was a lot better than where we started,” he said.

Junior Defence Minister Stuart Robert, who wrote the government’s submission, said the new WRA would deliver a salary increase for the troops.

“Ultimately, our personnel are our nation’s most important military capability and supporting them is my highest priority,” Mr Robert said.

The Defence Force Welfare Association’s virtual membership expanded from 1100 on Friday to more than 3000 yesterday.