The National Executive Council of the Prison Officers Association (POA) is expected to decide next week to hold a national ballot for industrial action, up to and including strike action.
The union has accused the Government of failing to establish a clear basis for negotiations on a new public sector pay agreement.
Similar ballots have also been announced by Fórsa, SIPTU, INMO and Unite.
The previous public sector pay deal expired on 30 June, and formal talks have yet to begin on a successor agreement.
The last deal provided for pay increases of up to 10.25% over the course of the two-and-a-half-year period.
Gabriel Keaveny, Deputy General Secretary of the POA, said it is disappointing that at a recent exploratory meeting with unions, Government representatives did not set out a clear and credible approach to aligning pay and living standards, at the commencement of the talks process.
“At our meeting next week, it is expected that our National Executive Council will decide to hold a national ballot on the pay talk issue and will be advising our members to vote for industrial action, up to and including strike action, unless significant progress can be made as a matter of urgency with Government,” Mr Keaveny said.
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has said previously that the threat of industrial action is unnecessary and that the Government wants to reach an agreement on public sector pay.
A spokesperson for the Department of Public Expenditure said the Government remains available for engagement with unions on all matters.
“It is only through engagement that agreement can be reached,” the department said.
