A Suffolk mayor has called for talks to resolve a pay dispute "amicably" after refuse workers voted overwhelmingly to take strike action. 

Staff employed by waste management firm Norse, jointly owned by East Suffolk Council and Norse Commercial Services, voted 96% in favour of strike action in a ballot by public service union UNISON. 

No dates have yet been set for the walkout, which could leave thousands of households in the East Suffolk district without a bin collection service. 

The refuse workers are calling for a pay deal that brings them in line with colleagues elsewhere, as well as contractual sick pay.  

The company has offered workers a £1,925 rise negotiated for most directly employed local government staff, as well as an additional 75p an hour.  

However, the union has said the pay on the East Suffolk contract is so low, workers would still be struggling despite the increase. 

Woodbridge Mayor Patrick Gillard, whose town could be affected by any strike action, said: “I would not like the strike to go on for long because it is going to cause disruption for residents and I would like the employers and workers to resolve this problem as quickly and amicably as possible.” 

In a statement, UNISON said it was hoping for an increased pay offer to avoid strikes and said the ballot result should be a 'wake-up call' for Norse and the council, showing that staff were fed up with 'poverty wages'. 

Cameron Matthews, UNISON Eastern regional organiser, said: “Refuse workers are desperate to avoid any disruption to the communities they serve, but they can’t survive on East Suffolk Norse wages much longer. 

“Years of lousy pay deals have left these key workers struggling to pay their bills, especially with the cost of living skyrocketing this year.  

“The employer’s offer may seem sizeable but pay has been stagnant for so long that it falls short of a decent wage. 

“We’re not asking for the world, just enough to live on. We urge East Suffolk Council and Norse to come back with a meaningful improvement that rewards the vital jobs these workers do.” 

An East Suffolk Council spokesperson said: “A generous offer has been made to operational staff by Waveney Norse and Suffolk Coastal Norse Ltd, which in some cases would see salaries rise by 17%.

"In addition, a commitment has been made to a full review of terms and conditions, with the possibility of a further productivity-related pay review.

"Everyone is facing cost of living pressures currently, and in these difficult times, we have worked hard to seek a resolution, in good faith.

"Industrial action would be in nobody’s interest and it will be our customers, who rely on these services, that will suffer the most. 

"It has been made clear to the unions that not every demand can be met and we would make the point, once again, that they are not showing a realistic understanding of what is fair and achievable."