Two unions representing Dumfries and Galloway Council staff are urging members to reject a pay deal.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has tabled a five per cent offer to council workers.
However, both Unison and GMB are urging workers to reject it when they are balloted over the issue.
GMB Scotland senior organiser for public services, Keir Greenaway, said: “GMB told COSLA bosses and ministers when we settled last year that our members expectations will be to keep building on the value of their consolidated pay and conditions.
“This year’s offer does not meet those aspirations and that’s why we are recommending rejection.
“Let’s be clear, the cost-of-living crisis has not gone away. It is hitting the lowest paid in society the hardest and that includes the home carers, school cleaners, and bin collectors that make up the bulk of our membership.
“Left unchallenged, this offer also means four-fifths of the workforce would receive a lesser rise than their counterparts in England and Wales, who have been tabled a flat-rate increase of over £1,900.”
A consultative ballot on the offer to more than 20,000 members of GMB Scotland’s local government membership will run until Friday, April 21.
Unison has also called on members to reject the offer with a ballot set to open imminently.
Union official Johanna Baxter said: “It falls short of the rate of inflation, is less than others in the public sector have been offered over the past year, and would in effect be a pay cut.
“Whilst the offer contains warm words about reaching a minimum underpinning rate of pay of £15 per hour it contains no detail at all on when or how this would be delivered.
“Local government cannot continue to be the poor relations of the public sector with councils continuously facing unpalatable choices between decent pay and jobs. Last year, the Scottish Government agreed they had a role to play in this, given they are the biggest funder of local government.
“We urge COSLA and the Scottish Government to get round the table to discuss this as a matter of urgency.”
Last year’s long-running pay battle ended after unions accepted a deal which resulted in a flat rate increase of more than £1,900 for all workers earning less than £39,000 a year – based on a 36-hour working week.
“I hope that Scottish Joint Council (SJC) union colleagues will view this as a strong offer which balances the ask of their claim with the need to protect the long-term viability and sustainability of Scottish local government and is one that they can take to their membership for consideration.”
