The latest round of pay talks collapsed in May at the UK’s largest tower crane operator

Unite said the ballot was ‘regrettable’ but warned any strike action this summer would “create chaos across the industry.”

HTC Wolffkran has offered drivers a 3% pay increase and extra holidays.

Workers will begin to receive their ballot papers this week and the ballot will close on Monday August 4.

High profile projects using HTC Wolffkran include the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, Greenwich Peninsula, Elephant and Castle redevelopment, the Midland Metropolitan Hospital and the Sheffield Retail Quarter.

Jerry Swain Unite’s acting national officer for construction said: “This strike ballot is taken very much as a last resort and is entirely a result of HTC Wolffkran failing to put forward a pay offer that meets our members’ expectations and its refusal to return to the negotiating table.

 “The ball remains in HTC Wolffkran’s court if it wants to avoid strike action it needs to re-open negotiations and table a realistic pay offer.

“Without an improved offer contractors need to brace themselves for major disruption as sites grind to a halt and projects are delayed.”