Dundee City Council workers have voted in support of industrial action in response to local authority cuts.

Unite said the ballot was a response to the council’s policy of compulsory redundancies, limiting flexible retirement, and reducing the pay protection for staff moved to lower grade posts without consultation.

The council’s policy and resources committee took the decision to adopt these new policies back in February.

The union said that following the consultative ballot, which saw 92% of participants support industrial action, a strike is likely unless the council agrees to reopen the consultation process and withdraw the imposed changes to the terms and conditions of Unite members.

‘Workers in Dundee City Council and the Leisure Trust find it hard to understand why SNP councillors supported by the Lord Provost have voted for a policy that they say they do not want to use,’ said Bob Macgregor, Unite regional industrial officer.

‘Unite will now speak to our sister unions about the action we will take should the council and the trust fail to talk with us about reversing these imposed changes.

‘After years of cuts, Dundee City Council workers are demanding to be treated with dignity. This council has breached their own Fair Work charter by failing to engage and consult on these changes to their workers’ terms of employment.

‘Local government cannot provide quality services whilst its workforce is under attack.’

The council has been contacted for a response.