Angus bin collectors have voted overwhelmingly for three months of industrial action in protest over changes to working patterns.
Unite the union has confirmed that 92% of an 87.2% turnout of its membership at Angus Council voted for the move.
The dispute was sparked when the local authority announced changes to the working day, away from the current 7am to 3pm shift to a two-shift pattern.
The move would require the 140 staff to carry out out alternating 6am to 2pm and 2pm to 10pm collections.
Unions argued that refuse collectors could be put at risk if they are expected to empty bins during the winter months on untreated roads and pavements.
Employees were also concerned about the impact of the new regime on their work life balance.
A spokesperson for the union said the local authority would be informed of the timetable for industrial action, which will include a ban on overtime and work to rule.
George Ramsay, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “The emphatic result in support of industrial action highlights the strength of feeling over Angus Council imposing a number of changes in environmental services.
“If Angus Council management had bothered to take our concerns seriously they would have been left in little doubt about the folly of their proposals, and we would not be in this situation of their own making.
“Unite would once again like to state that we are willing to re-engage with management in order to find a resolution to this dispute.
“If Angus Council refuse to do so, then the public should know that industrial action is imminent, and with it significant disruption to the service, through the intransigence of management.”
The action is due to take place from April until late June 2019.
Angus Council leader David Fairweather said: “It is disappointing that staff in this department have voted for industrial action.
“We do have contingency plans in place, and think that residents will see very little disruption to their bin collections.
“The fact is, however, that we face unprecedented cuts to our budget, and this is impacting on every single department throughout the council.”
