Unions representing Highland Council staff have urged their members to vote for strike action over a pay dispute.
Unite, Unison and the GMB have asked the local authority for a rise of £1,000 this year, or 5%, as well as improved leave arrangements.
A recommendation by local government body Cosla of a 2.5% a year rise over three years has already been rejected.
Councillor Carolyn Wilson said strike action would hit those who most need the council's services.
The unions said the council had rejected additional leave and wanted staff to agree to a three-year deal with no scope for reopening talks if inflation went above an agreed level.
Munro Ross, secretary of the Highland Council Joint Trade Unions, said they were looking for a strong vote for industrial action in the ballot, which will close next Thursday.
"We've said that we're ready to meet the employers anywhere, anytime," he said.
"But inflation is spiralling through the roof and isn't expected to drop until well into 2009.
"The council doesn't have a huge pot of money and it can't be spread any more thinly than it is at the moment"
"Our membership, particularly our lower paid membership, cannot afford to wait that length of time."
Mr Ross said strike action would affect all council services.
"It would impact everything done by the council - from home care, social work to residential care, school cleaning, refuse collection, burials and cremations," he added.
Ms Wilson said it was the unions' job to get the best deal for their members, but that she hoped a solution to the dispute could quickly be found.
"The council doesn't have a huge pot of money and it can't be spread any more thinly than it is at the moment," she said.
"We all want to see our staff being as happy as possible.
"But any members of staff who work for the council, and who take strike action, would have some kind of detrimental effect on the daily lives in communities across the Highlands and we would obviously want to avoid that."
^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~05~RS~)