SIPTU and AT&GWU workers at Drogheda Corporation are being balloted for strike action in protest at the local authority's decision to privatise its refuse collection service.
The result of the ballot will be known this afternoon, but a SIPTU branch secretary, Mr Michael Walsh, predicted there would be overwhelming support for an all-out strike.
The corporation will discontinue its collection service from January 21st, following the failure of councillors to include funding for the service in their estimates.
Corporation management had been seeking the introduction of a charge of £155 a household for the service which was previously provided without an additional fee.
Mr Walsh said that, if accepted by the ballot, 76 workers would withdraw their services, hitting water pumping stations, libraries, street cleaning and all other services, with the exception of the fire service.
Meanwhile, picketing by 55 SIPTU members continued in Bray yesterday in protest at the discontinuation of the UDC's refuse service.
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, was last night urged by the Socialist Party TD, Mr Joe Higgins, to intervene and halt the privatisation of local refuse collection services.
Mr Higgins said there was now chaos among local authorities with some councils privatising these services and others continuing to operate their public services.
He warned that the operation of tag-a-bag schemes by private operators gave these private firms an incentive to increase rather than reduce the amount of waste generated.
"The domestic refuse collection service should be maintained as a function of the local authority," he said. "This is the most effective way to develop programmes of waste reduction, minimisation and recycling."
The charges for private services would wipe out any tax gains for low-paid workers provided in the Budget, Mr Higgins said.
He said a single income couple on £10,000 gained £144 under the Budget, but would be charged up to £150 by private contractors.