Lanarkshire schools could stay shut after the summer holidays and rubbish could pile high after council staff voted for strike action amid a pay dispute.
Workers at both North and South Lanarkshire Councils have rejected a "derisory" two per cent pay offer with cleaning services set to be impacted and schools set to be hit in early September.
Unions Unite Scotland, Unison and the GMB all say what is on the table isn't acceptable for its members.
They have been at loggerheads with councils for months and umbrella group COSLA say they cannot afford to increase the offer and have called on the Scottish Government to stump up more money.
School staff, including cleaners and janitors, as well as workers in waste and recycling services, have now backed strike action.
Industrial action in refuse and waste services is expected to begin in mid-August.
Johanna Baxter, head of local government at Unison, said: “COSLA leaders must put an improved offer on the table if we are to avoid large-scale disruption to council services across Scotland.
“Council workers south of the border yesterday were offered a flat rate uplift of £1925, which for those on the lowest pay equates to a 10.5 per cent increase.
"You have to wonder why council workers north of the border have only been offered a measly two per cent increase when the cost of living continues to spiral."
GMB Scotland senior organiser Keir Greenaway said: “The two per cent that’s already been massively rejected is a shameful proposal.
"It’s worth less than a tenner a week extra for those earning £25,000 or under, and it will turn a cost-of-living crisis into a catastrophe for many workers and their families.
“Two years ago, these workers were applauded on the doorstep by political leaders, but now they are being told to suffer massive real terms pay cuts ahead of a brutal winter with forecasts of double-digit inflation and energy bills over £3000."
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The message for both the Scottish Government and COSLA is crystal clear: thousands upon thousands of members won’t tolerate real terms pay cuts anymore, and they have had enough.
"Our members are being forced to take this action due to a derisory pay offer, and we will support them in this fight for better jobs, pay and conditions in local government.”
Unite say more than half of Scotland’s 250,000 council workers are earning less than £25,000 a year for a 37-hour week.
A COSLA Spokesperson said: “COSLA Leaders are clear that they value hugely the local government workforce, which is why discussions with our trade union colleagues continue in order to reach an agreement and avoid strike action.
“As employers we have a responsibility to ensure that any pay deal offered is both sustainable and affordable and that is why we are unable to go beyond the current offer at this point.
"As mandated by Leaders, we are currently in discussions with Scottish Government and await their response to Leaders’ request for additional funding.”
A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council, said: “We are considering the results of the recent ballot of union members and the potential effect on service provision.
"Nonetheless, we will await official notification from the union of the shape and timing of any industrial action before looking in detail at any contingency planning.”
A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: "We have received notification from GMB, Unison and Unite of their intention to take strike action and are awaiting further communication.
"We are assessing what impact this will have on council services and will notify people and businesses of any changes to services. Pay negotiations are discussed at a national level through COSLA.”
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