HUNDREDS of council workers in Barrhead and across East Renfrewshire manned the picket lines yesterday.

Around 1,000 UNISON members came out on strike – the first walk out in 11 years.

Members of the country’s largest union voted to strike over a 2.5 per cent pay rise.

Fury erupted when council’s across Scotland told workers to ‘take it or leave it’ – branding the offer an ‘insult’, UNISON is demanding a five per cent rise.

Schools in Barrhead managed to open despite the industrial action, while nurseries were operating a limited service. After-hour school lets were cancelled, and with the exception of two secondaries, school librarians were out on strike. Barrhead and Neilston libraries, along with libraries across the authority, with the exception of Mearns Community Library, also shut for the day.

Barrhead Sports Centre and Neilston Leisure Centre were closed, while opening times at Eastwood Recreational Centre were restricted. Barrhead’s council offices in Bank Street and Rhuallan House in Giffnock were offering a limited service.

UNISON workers in the social work department agreed to offer an emergency ‘life and limb’ service for vulnerable and elderly clients.

But there was severe disruption to the bin collection service in Barrhead. Some rubbish bins were emptied as usual, but six bin crews from the Thornliebank depot, due to empty thousands of wheelie bins, refused to cross the picket line.

As the News went to press last night, cleansing bosses promised to clear the backlog up as soon as possible.

Picket lines were set up across the authority with the largest gathering outside East Renfrewshire Council headquarters in Eastwood Park.

Angela McHugh, from the council’s community and leisure department, is chairman of East Renfrewshire’s UNISON branch.

Speaking outside the council chambers yesterday, she said: “We balloted for industrial action because of the miserable 2.5 per cent pay offer — which is below the rate of inflation.

“East Renfrewshire’s workers have had enough of local government being underfunded, and the councillors have been very sympathetic about the situation.

“I would like to see Jack McConnell live on what some council workers earn. I hope that the strike today will be effective and get the message across.

“After today’s strike we will find out on Friday what action will be taken next.” Margaret Pettigrew from Neilston, works in the member services department.

Speaking at the picket line, she added: “It is unfair that English local government workers have been offered more than us. Are we lower class? Why should they get more than us?” Workers also gathered outside Barrhead Sports Centre in the Main Street.

A member of staff, who did not want to be named, blas ed the payrise as ‘nonsense’.

Speaking outside the centre on the picket line, she said: “I want the decision makers to come back to the table and talk about this again, because what they have offered us is nonsense.

“A 2.5 per cent pay rise would be alright if I was earning £50,000 a year, but for people who are only earning around £8,000 it’s insulting.”