SIPTU members in Cork County Council are to be balloted for industrial and strike action on February 13th.

The dispute relates to, what the union says is, the refusal of management to engage with the workforce planning process - and to recruit more staff.

SIPTU organiser Con Casey said: "Over many months there has been no progress at all in management moving to engage with the workforce planning process and start employing more staff.

"We now have a situation where key sections of the council which deal with road maintenance, housing and many other essential services are now seriously understaffed.

"This is due to management failing to replace workers as they retire."

SIPTU claims the approach is "part of an agenda to increase the outsourcing of work to private for profit companies."

Mr Casey added: "This move towards outsourcing by Cork County Council management is being pursued in contravention to national agreements.

"These agreements assert that the high standards of council services should be preserved by maintaining their delivery by directly employed council staff."

The ballot is to be counted in Connolly Hall on Friday February 17th.