Perth and Kinross staff working in schools and early years - excluding teachers - could vote to go on strike next term.
Local schools and nurseries could be hit with strike action for the second year running after unions rejected a 5.5 per cent pay increase as food prices soar by 19 per cent.
Trade unions have issued ballots to thousands of key council workers working in schools and early years services across all 32 Scottish councils. The workers contemplating industrial action include: janitors, cleaners, caterers, classroom assistants and administrative staff.
Unite opened its ballot on targeted strike action on Monday, June 19 while GMB Scotland began balloting members on June 12. Members of both unions will have until the end of July to cast their vote.
In its 2023/2024 budget for councils the Scottish Government announced an additional £100 million "to support a meaningful pay rise for local government workers".
In April 2023 COSLA (the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) offered a 5.5 per cent increase but said "the average uplift on salaries going into the next financial year is seven per cent".
Unite members employed by Tayside Contracts who provide catering and janitorial services to schools across Perth and Kinross - as well as Angus and Dundee - have been included in the ballot.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite has repeatedly warned both the Scottish Government and COSLA for months that widespread strike action will be inevitable for the second year in a row unless the pay offer is increased.
"The prediction is a step closer with ballots opening across all 32 Scottish councils involving thousands of our members. This is happening because COSLA and the Scottish Government are asking our members to swallow a punishing real terms wage cut. This is totally unacceptable."
GMB Scotland said workers were "suffering through an unprecedented cost of living crisis". The union began balloting members on June 12 after 94 per cent of the GMB Scotland members rejected COSLA's offer of 5.5 per cent.
GMB Scotland senior organiser for public services Keir Greenaway said: "Given COSLA is unwilling or unable to offer a fair pay rise or ask ministers to intervene, we have been left with no choice but to ask our members if they are willing to take industrial action in support of our claim.
"They are suffering through an unprecedented cost of living crisis but have been offered a rise that is less than last year, despite the cost of living being even higher, and less than is being offered to council workers in England and Wales.
“It is absolutely no surprise workers, who are doing some of the most important jobs in Scotland, are unwilling to accept what is effectively a pay cut. Sadly, it is equally unsurprising that COSLA is unwilling to revise its offer or ask for government support.
“That intransigence means we have no option but to ballot our members on industrial action.”
On April 3, 2023, COSLA made what is said was a "strong offer" to the Scottish Joint Council employee representatives to cover the period April 2023 to March 31, 2024.
The offer would have seen a pupil support assistant on an hourly rate of £13.80 see their hourly rate increase to £14.49 as of April, 2023 and up to £14.85 in January 2024. A janitor on an hourly rate of £12.76 would have seen their hourly rate increase to £13.40 as of April 2023 and up to £13.74 in January 2024.
Those on the lowest hourly rate would be paid £11.84 per hour by January 2024 - £1.42 per hour more than the UK Government’s National Living Wage (for those aged 23 and over) and a 99p increase to the Scottish Local Government Living Wage.
A COSLA spokesperson said: "The reality of the situation is that as employers, council leaders have made a strong offer to the workforce. A strong offer which clearly illustrates the value councils place on their workforce, and it compares well to other sectors. It recognises the cost-of-living pressures on our workforce and critically, it seeks to protect jobs and services.
"While the offer value in year is 5.5 per cent, the average uplift on salaries going into the next financial year is seven per cent. Those on the Scottish Local Government Living Wage would get 9.12 per cent and those at higher grades, where councils are experiencing severe recruitment challenges, would see 6.05 per cent.
"It is an offer which recognises both the vital role of the people who deliver our essential services across councils every day and the value that we, as employers, place on them. Crucially, it also raises the Scottish Local Government Living Wage by 99p to £11.84 per hour and sets out a commitment to work with our Trade Unions to develop a road map to £15 per hour in a way that protects our workforce and services we deliver."
The Scottish Government has urged all involved to work together "constructively and reach an agreement which is fair for the workforce and affordable for employers".
The government spokesperson said: "Local government pay negotiations are a matter for local authorities as employers and unions – the Scottish Government has no formal role.
"Despite UK Government cuts, the Scottish Government announced a further £100 million as part of this year’s budget for councils to support a meaningful pay rise for local government workers.
"The Scottish Government urges all the parties involved to work together constructively and reach an agreement which is fair for the workforce and affordable for employers."
A PKC spokesperson said: "We are aware unions are intending to ballot their members on industrial action and will continue to monitor the situation."
