MORE than 700 workers at Aberdeen City Council have been balloted for strike action amid growing anger at fire-and-rehire proposals.

The SNP-led local authority plans £183 million in cuts over the next five years, £40m of which it hopes to slash from its wage bill by cutting the full-time working week from 37 to 35 hours and freezing take-home pay for two years — a real-terms cut.

Council bosses, who enjoyed £19,000 in pay rises last year, announced their intention to impose the plans by firing the 3,000-strong council workforce and rehiring them on the new terms.