Council workers could be forced to strike because they can’t afford to feed their families. 

Binmen, cleaners and school janitors are among those ready to down tools because they feel a pay rise isn’t enough for them to pay their bills or cover childcare costs. 

Union convener John McMenemy fired a stark warning as GMB members were the latest to reject CoSLA’s offer to increase salaries by three per cent.

He said workers are struggling to put food on the table and claimed a strike would cause a ‘colossal disruption’ to council services, with around 750 council workers making up GMB’s membership.

Mr McMenemy said: “I see it every day, membership that can’t afford to put food on the table. 

“The only way we can address the issue in local government is a substantial pay rise. It would be a colossal disruption to services but there’s been pay stagnation for 10 years.” 

GMB members have joined those at Unison in vowing to walk out if they do not get a better pay offer. 

Industrial action could be taken in Renfrewshire as early as January, as union representatives from around the country prepare to meet in the next few weeks.

GMB’s 30,000 strong local government membership across the country supported moving to industrial action by a majority of 85 per cent. 

A CoSLA spokesman said: “We value our workforce highly. We have a balance to strike between annual pay increases and maintaining jobs.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We value and recognise the contribution of all council staff. However, pay for local government employees, other than teachers, is negotiated between the unions and CoSLA, and the Scottish Government is not part of that process. 

“Despite continued UK Government real terms cuts to Scotland’s resource budget, we have treated local government very fairly. In 2018-19, councils will receive funding through the local government finance settlement of £10.7 billion.”