BIN lorry drivers have been threatened with disciplinary action if they refuse to use new digital technology in their vehicles.

The dispute over cleansing drivers being expected to use new tablets on the rounds has escalated and the union has notified the council of industrial action next month.

Drivers are being asked to use tablets to record information like blocked lanes, rat sightings or contaminated recycling bins.

READ NEXT: Glasgow cleansing workers vote for industrial action

But their union says it is new equipment and is not covered in their roles and responsibilities.

Drivers on the routes where the system is being used said they have been told that, from this week, if they refuse to use the tablets, they will be considered to be guilty of “partial performance” and face suspension and loss of wages.

The council says the drivers' contracts cover the use of equipment attached to the vehicle.

GMB members voted in favour of taking industrial action and the council has been given 14 days' notice of action short of a strike.

READ NEXT:Council manager charged over incident at homeless soup kitchen

A union official has written to council chief executive Annemarie O’Donnell regarding the dispute.

Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser, said: “We have made it clear that we do not believe that the job description covers the task of using information technology by the drivers.

“We also firmly believe that the fine motor skills and IT literacy required are not captured within the scoring for the current job profile.

“Management have made us aware that they will start pursuing disciplinary action if the alloy system is not used in the cab.

“This is a task our members don’t have in their job profile and are not currently being remunerated for.

“Therefore, disciplinary action against our members will only exacerbate the current dispute."

The council has said that the issue has previously been considered through a grievance procedure and that it was concluded the use of the devices is in keeping with the role.

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “A comprehensive review of the introduction of electronic tablets to record service information found their use is entirely in keeping with the role staff currently undertake.

“The introduction of these devices allows issues to be recorded at the push of a button and will help us run our services more effectively.

“Drivers have been fully trained and all health and safety issues fully addressed as part of the implementation process.

“All staff are expected to undertake tasks in keeping with their job profile.

“GMB has notified us of the intention of a small group of drivers to take part in industrial action short of strike action.”