Rubbish could be left uncollected across all three Ayrshire authorities after council workers voted for strike action.
And East Ayrshire faces additional strikes which could also hit schools just after pupils return.
Unite, Unison and GMB members were balloted over a two per cent pay offer as the cost of living crisis sees inflation rose to 11.8 per cent.
While Unite and GMB members voted for action, Unison – which accounts for majority of workers balloted across Ayrshire – didn’t reach the threshold that requires more than half of eligible members to vote in order to be ‘valid’.
However, Unison did indicate that the vast majority of those who did vote were in favour of action.
Unite and GMB confirmed that their members at the three authorities will join 23 other local government branches across Scotland in targeted strikes.
East Ayrshire will see action taken in both the waste services and schools, while strikes in North and South Ayrshire will be restricted to waste services.
Refuse and waste service action is expected to begin in mid-August and strikes specifically impacting the operation of schools such as cleansing and catering are expected to begin in early September.
Unions are required to give 14 days' notice once a date has been settled. All three councils said they were waiting on the announcement of dates to determine the impact on services and how they would minimise disruption.
Amanda Lowe, head of people and culture at East Ayrshire Council, said: “I can confirm the council has been advised by Unite the Union that they have balloted their members in our waste management service [70 employees] and support services in schools [20 employees] to take part in industrial action."
A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We are continuing to monitor closely the situation with regard to the pay offer for public sector workers.
”We have received notification from Unite and GMB that the threshold for strike action has been met from their balloted members within Streetscene (waste and recycling).
“This is currently not a notification for strike action, only the results of their ballot.”
South Ayrshire Council leader Martin Dowey said the council would work to minimise any impact on services.
He said: “Hopefully an agreement can still be reached and any strike action called off. In the meantime, we need to put plans in place to try to lessen the impact on residents.
“For our waste collections, this might mean concentrating on general waste and asking households to hang on to any recyclables.”
A South Ayrshire Council spokesperson added: “Only our waste services would be affected by the proposed strike action. Strike action will affect approximately 117 employees. Plans are being put in place to minimise the impact of any strike action on refuse collections.”
National council body COSLA, which is negotiating with the unions, has suggested it backs a five per cent pay increase if the Scottish Government stumps up additional funds.
A recent spending review saw the Scottish Government indicate a freeze on council funding for the next five years.
Unite industrial officer Wendy Dunsmore added: “Our members are at the end of their patience. They are being forced to take this action due to being completely undervalued despite working throughout the pandemic.
“Let’s be clear here: a two per cent pay offer when the broader cost of living is at 11.8 per cent is a punishing real terms pay cut.”
GMB Scotland senior organiser Keir Greenaway said: “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 £3,000.”
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