UNISON members have branded city council plans to charge its employees for parking "disgraceful".
The workplace parking charge is expected to come into force in May, ahead of the introduction of the Workplace Parking Levy.
It is claimed the charges, which will be at least �1 per day, will be proportionate to workers' salaries.
But Jean Thorpe, Nottingham branch chairwoman of Unison, slammed the plans.
She said: "The charge means a 2.1 per cent pay cut. Members are up in arms about this. It is disgraceful.
"The facility to park should be freely available to staff.
"Many people have to drive to work because of their personal situation.
"And a lot of our members start very early, some of them as early as 5am, when there aren't any buses.
"There's a strong feeling among members that the council should not be doing this."
Ms Thorpe said ballots reaching city council Unison members would include this issue.
Labour city councillor Jane Urquhart, portfolio holder for transport and area working, said charging council workers for parking was a "fair way" to pass on the levy charge.
She added: "We felt that was the right way to go.
"Through paying the charge our employees will also be able to use the city council office parking spaces on weekends and out-of-work hours."
From next April, the city council plans to charge businesses �279 per parking space across the city.
Mrs Urquhart said the levy was a necessary step to save the council money and find the cash for new projects, such as the tram extension.
But Conservative city councillor Andrew Price said the levy could pull away business from the city.
He said: "It's a tax on jobs and will be a disincentive for businesses.
"And to find the amount of money to fund the new tram system is something we cannot afford to do now."
However, he said passing the levy onto council workers was a reasonable step.
"It reduces the number of council employees we will have to make redundant," he said.
David Thornhill, chairman of Notts Campaign for Better Transport, said they supported the plan to charge council staff as it was an easy way of raising money for other projects.
"I'm in favour of the council charging its own employees," he said. "I think it should cover everybody."
A spokeswoman for the council said the parking charge was one of a number of measures which would save the council �4 million on staff costs, which include altering some terms and conditions of employment.
She said these measures would also help the council protect 165 jobs.
Mrs Urquhart and Mr Price will be arguing their cases on the BBC East Midlands Politics Show tomorrow.
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