Trade union Unison has threatened strike action after local authority leaders in Scotland decided to impose their pay offer.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) decided to push ahead with a pay increase of £1,292 or 3.6%, whichever is higher.
GMB and Unite had voted to accept the offer but Unison – Scotland's largest local government union – has rejected the rise.
Unison said more than 90,000 council and school staff in Scotland would now be balloted for strike action.
Local government lead for Unison Scotland, David O'Connor, said the imposition was a ‘bitter disappointment'.
He added: ‘They've resorted to some of the worst employment practices by imposing this deal. They should be utterly ashamed of themselves.'
COSLA has previously said the offer was ‘at the absolute limit of affordability'.
