Industrial action will take place on Wednesday, August 20, after 70 per cent of union members across Scotland refused to accept the latest pay deal negotiated by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA).

The strike will include anyone who is employed by the Council under single status, which includes the likes of home carers, road sweepers, social workers, cooks, cleaners and library staff, only excluding teachers, fire fighters and craft workers.

Members of trade unions UNISON, GMB and Unite all dismissed the offer in a vote on July 31, which would have seen a 2.5 per cent pay increase over three years.

The Fife branch of UNISON is now looking for a five per cent increase in pay over a one year period, which they say is more in line with current inflation.

Trade union officials confirmed a full strike will go ahead unless CoSLA comes forward with further negotiations within the next 13 days.

UNISON's lead negotiator for local council staff, Dougie Black, said: "This result is a clear rejection of an inadequate offer.

"Inflation is at 4.6 per cent and key items on household bills like bread and milk are increasing even faster. Our members need a fair offer from their employers."

Growing inflation has been blamed for the rejection of the pay offer, with all three trade unions saying the offer is not sustainable over a three-year period.

Stevie Murray, chairman of UNISON's Fife branch, said: "Our members are not the cause of inflation, they are the victims of it. They have the worst pay, holidays, parental rights and sick pay in the public sector and without them vital services will fall apart.

"The offer is a pay cut and locks us into likely pay cuts for three years."

Fife Council currently employs more than 22,000 people, 10,000 of whom are thought to be members of one of the three trade unions.

Head of human resources, Sandy Gallanders, said: "We will attempt to negotiate with the unions to ensure some key services aren't disrupted. As far as possible, we will continue to provide key public services as well as all vital high priority services for vulnerable people."