The Unite trade union has called for more negotiations to avert a strike across NI by council workers over pay.
Councils and other local government bodies across Northern Ireland are bracing themselves for a two-day strike starting on Wednesday.
The strike, which is due to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, would affect, among other things, bin collections and street sweeping.
The action is being taken across the UK in protest at a pay offer of 2.5%.
Unite's members have rejected a pay increase of 2.5%.
As well as council services, the Housing Executive and education and library boards will also be affected.
Union representative Albert Mills said the pay offer does not cover increases in the cost of living which are currently being experienced.
The Unite union has called on assembly members and councillors to join the picket lines and support striking workers.
"We've been taking pay cuts in the public sector for a number of years now, below inflation pay rises and actual pay cuts," he said.
Also affected by the two day strike will be Derry City Airport.
"Our members, with the current economic downturn and meltdown, have said enough's enough.
It is owned by the city council and a spokesperson said it was disappointed that there was no agreement to exempt the airport from the industrial action.
"The private sector are settling for pay rises of 4 and 5%. Those are cost of living pay rises with what inflation is heading towards. Our members aren't asking to get rich on a pay deal of 6% or 50 pence per hour."
Trevor Salmon, director of corporate services with Belfast City Council, said it was hard to predict what support the strike would have.
"What we do know is certain essential services such as burials, cremations and weddings which have been long in the planning will go ahead as planned," he said.
"There will be disruption of our leisure centre and our community centres - we think 50% of those will be disrupted or closed.
"The biggest disruption of course is going to be the bin collections - we calculate that some 54,000 households will be affected."
No deal
DUP councillor Jimmy Spratt, who took part in the pay negotiations with the unions, said there was no chance of a last minute deal to avoid industrial action.
"I think it's fair to say that the unions are well aware that the offer that had been made of 2.54% is a full and final offer and there's no additional money on the table, and there won't be any additional money on the table.
"On the ballot that has taken place, the second largest union on the National Joint Council, the GMB union, actually accepted the pay deal," Mr Spratt said.
However, Unite workers want to increase wages by 6%.
Jimmy Kelly, Irish regional secretary, said: "Unite calls on the Stormont government to fund local government properly."
The union wants workers to be paid what it describes as "a decent living wage".
"We call on councillors and MLAs who support our members' demands to join us on the picket lines. They will be made very welcome," said Mr Kelly.
Are you a union member planning to take part in the strike, or will your day be disrupted by the strike? Do you agree with the industrial action? How can the dispute be resolved? Send us your comments using the form below:
