Staff at Cross Keys Bridge, Sutton Bridge, are to be balloted on industrial action in defence of their pay and conditions.
The ballot of Unison members runs from yesterday until February 25 and could lead to a strike by bridge keepers, who man the bridge to allow it to be opened for shipping access to the port of Wisbech.
It comes at the end of an internal disputes procedure at Lincolnshire County Council which found in favour of the management side of the council.
Lincolnshire County Branch of Unison say pay cuts imposed on staff at the bridge have been implemented by the county council without agreement of staff or the union.
As a result members have lost pay and allowances amounting to more than a 13.5per cent cut in take-home pay at a time when local government workers have faced a three-year pay freeze as utility bills, fuel, food and housing costs continue to rise.