Strike notice has been served on Drogheda Corporation by 76 workers who are opposed to the local authority's decision to privatise its refuse collection service.
The corporation plans to discontinue its public collection service from January 21st. The workers, members of SIPTU and the AT&GWU, voted by a majority of more than five to one to strike if the service was halted.
"The action will start any day or from any hour that the service is withdrawn," said Ms Patsy Stone, the AT&GWU's regional industrial organiser.
The decision to discontinue the service was taken after corporation members failed to include funding for refuse collection in the estimates.