Thousands of Leeds Council staff to be balloted over women's pay dispute
The union said more than 4,000 women had joined an equal pay claim against the authority.
Thousands of council staff will be balloted on possible strike action in a dispute over equal pay.
The GMB union said it was triggered by a lack of action from Leeds City Council on fair wages for female workers.
The union said more than 4,000 women had joined an equal pay claim against the authority.
Pay differences were found between jobs staffed mainly by women, like teaching assistants, compared to mainly male roles like refuse collection.
Union members held a noisy protest on Wednesday outside Leeds Civic Hall, where a full council meeting was being held.
GMB organiser Lee Parkinson said: “Negotiations have fallen. We are going to ballot for strike action on Friday, September 18.”
The indicative ballot, which asks members if they would be prepared to take industrial action in principle, could be followed by a full strike ballot if enough are in favour.
Mr Parkinson called on the council to take part in talks to resolve the dispute.
He said: “As everybody has heard, we want them to get back around the table and settle this dispute amicably, and resolve this pay injustice for our members who are suffering.”
The GMB previously warned the equal pay claim could cost the council hundreds of millions of pounds to resolve.
GMB senior organiser Julie Wynn said GMB said the ballot would open on International Equal Pay Day.
She said: “These women are owed millions of pounds and they want to see some action.
“Leeds City Council has made plenty of noises about doing the right thing, but so far absolutely nothing has happened.
“So they have asked for an indicative ballot – and if they win that, the next step is a full strike ballot.
“Leeds council’s working women are not going to back down from this fight.”
Leeds City Council has been asked for a comment on the ballot.
The council previously said it was keen to continue talks and outstanding elements of the GMB claim involved involved complex legal issues.