More than 100 council workers are set to vote on strike action over pay and conditions.

Employees of the Mears Group, who are responsible for maintenance of Brighton and Hove City Council’s homes and properties, will take part in the consultative ballot on June 7.

Any resulting industrial action, which is set for late July or early August, would affect the local authority’s 12,500 homes.

The move follows a breakdown in talks concerning increased and fairer pay for lower tiered workers.

The GMB, along with fellow unions UCATT and UNITE, have indicated that they will ballot after the Mears group rejected their proposal of a 1% increase for those on the upper rates of pay and up to 3% for those on lower rates.

Gary Palmer GMB Organiser said: “Whilst we support the company looking to harmonise pay, simply asking the majority of staff to endure another pay freeze so those on lower pay can eventually, over several years, gain pay parity is unreasonable.

“Of course the company talk about the current financial climate being poor, but the Mears group and this branch are performing extremely well profitability wise.

“The company share prices are up, so we believe there is money available, it just needs to be made accessible.”

The Argus approached both the Mears Group and Brighton and Hove City Council yesterday but neither was available for comment.

Mr Palmer added: “The joint unions will be looking to inform the client, Brighton and Hove City Council, that action would be likely to take place late July or early August should it be necessary, and to suggest that they request that their contractor resolves this matter amicably before then.

“Morale has dropped to an alltime low and our members are angry at the total lack of respect for them in the offer tabled so far.”