Members of the Siptu trade union have voted for strike action over the privatisation of the waste service in south Dublin.
The union said the action was being taken "as a direct result of the unilateral decision by South Dublin County Council to discontinue the collection of waste by direct labour".
Siptu organiser Conor O'Gorman said the union had been engaged in discussions with the council over a restructuring of the waste collection service for more than a year.
"In October last, the management gave a commitment in the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to maintain the direct labour service. It is now quite clear to Siptu members that even at that time they were proceeding with these plans for outsourcing," he said.
Mr O'Gorman claimed the decision to put this work out to contract was "a breach of the commitments given on the continued use of direct labour" in the Croke Park agreement on the public service, as well as in previous national agreements and local agreements between the union and the council.
"We are willing and eager to continue our discussions with the council to ensure the future viability of the service," Mr O'Gorman added.
He said if the council was willing to abide by the section in the Croke Park agreement referring to outsourcing, the issue could be resolved without recourse to strike action.
"This whole situation again highlights the need for regulation of the waste industry."