TENS of thousands of council workers are being balloted on strike action in the “biggest vote of its kind in years.”

Local government union Unison kicked off May Day by saying that a vote would be offered to more than 80,000 workers across Scotland’s 32 councils.

Staff will choose whether to stage walkouts as part of a dispute over pay. 

The ballot, which closes on June 12, follows a recent consultation in which 92 per cent backed strike action.

Local government employers’ body Cosla has offered all council workers in Scotland a 3 per cent increase for 2025-26, less than half of the 6.5 per cent sought by the union.

Unison Scotland co-lead for local government David O’Connor said: “Dedicated council staff have seen the value of their pay fall for more than a decade, as wages failed to keep pace with the cost of living.

“These workers deliver high-quality, vital services to communities, despite increasing pressures, dwindling resources and significant staffing shortages.

“Cosla’s offer only adds to the real financial hardship faced by employees, especially with rent, council tax and energy bills continuing to soar.”

Mr O’Connor said strike action was always a last resort, but that local government workers had been “underpaid and undervalued for far too long.”

Susanne Gens of Unison Scotland added: “Staff have indicated overwhelmingly that they’ve reached their limit. They can’t afford to shoulder the burden of real-terms pay cuts.

“Local government workers are the glue that holds communities together and provide essential services on which everyone relies.

“The Scottish government and Cosla must recognise their worth and respond with a fair pay offer that values these essential workers.”

Cosla was approached for comment.