Schools across Scotland could be closed by strike action after a union announced it would ballot its members across all 32 council areas.
Unite the union today warned the Scottish Government it was repeating mistakes made last year when it came to negotiating pay deals with local authority staff.
Thousands of council workers employed at schools and nurseries will now vote in targeted strike action ballots.
It could see janitors, cleaners, caterers, classroom assistants and administrative staff walk out later this year unless a new pay offer is made.
The ballot opens on Monday and closes at the end of the month.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite has repeatedly warned both the Scottish Government and COSLA for months that widespread strike action will be inevitable for the second year in a row unless the pay offer is increased.
"The prediction is a step closer with ballots opening across all 32 Scottish councils involving thousands of our members.
"This is happening because COSLA and the Scottish Government are asking our members to swallow a punishing real terms wage cut.
"This is totally unacceptable. Unite will always stand up for better jobs, pay and conditions in local government."
The Scottish Government settled a pay dispute with council workers last year after a further £200 million was found to pay for it.
John Swinney, the then finance secretary, had repeatedly warned there was no extra cash available to ministers.
Unite said that its members had "emphatically" rejected a five percent pay offer last month.
A COSLA spokesman said: “The reality of the situation is that as employers, council leaders have made a strong offer to the workforce.
"A strong offer which clearly illustrates the value councils place on their workforce, and it compares well to other sectors. It recognises the cost-of-living pressures on our workforce and critically, it seeks to protect jobs and services.
“While the offer value in year is 5.5 per cent, the average uplift on salaries going into the next financial year is seven per cent. Those on the Scottish Local Government Living Wage would get 9.12 per cent."
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