Parking staff in Glasgow have voted to strike when the city hosts one of its biggest sporting events ever.

GMB Scotland announced its members will walk out next month during the UCI Cycling World Championships.

Thousands of people are expected in the city and extra restrictions will be in place on the roads.

The union has targeted the championships and said the action will threaten the event as illegally parked cars could obstruct the road races.

The strike is over a pay dispute with Cosla, which represents all of Scotland's councils.

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Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser for public services, said: “The overwhelming support for industrial action among our members in parking services should come as no surprise after they were offered a pay rise so far below the rate of inflation during an unprecedented cost of living crisis.

“The World Cycling Championships should be an opportunity to showcase our country around the globe and to risk it being disrupted by failing to properly recognise the work of our members is an appalling act of self-harm by our council leaders.”

GMB said the ballot was called after 94% of more than 21,000 GMB members working for Scottish councils rejected a pay offer of 5.5%, less than council colleagues were offered in England and Wales.

The UCI World Cycling Championships takes place from August 3 for ten days.

It will see events held at venues across the city and also road races going through the city centre, requiring dozens of road closures and parking restrictions to be in place.

Unite members have also voted in favour of strike action.

Workers at City Parking and the Emirates Arena, which will host events voted yes to action during the championships.

Unite General Secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “City Parking and Glasgow Life workers have delivered a clear mandate that they are willing to stand up for workers across Scotland’s Councils. They all deserve a fair pay award.”

“The 5 per cent on the table is nowhere near our members needs or expectations. They have voted pervious to reject this offer by 84 per cent, yet these warnings were ignored by COSLA who refused to engage in further talks.”

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council, said: “Local government pay negotiations are conducted nationally,  through Cosla, not by individual local authorities.

“However, Glasgow City Council’s political leadership has made it clear - as it did last year - that it supports a strong settlement that works for both our staff and for public services.

“We are continuing to look at contingency plans to mitigate, as far as possible, the impact of any strike action during the championships.”