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Students who work part-time for local authorities to support their studies could be interested to hear Unison has stated that it is a "disgrace" Scotland's public sector workers are having their pay cut.

The group's general secretary Dave Prentis made his comments at a strike rally held in Glasgow yesterday, following 150,000 council workers walking out of their jobs in protest of a below-inflation three-year pay offer of 2.4 per cent.

"Our members have not taken this action lightly – they are the lowest paid workers in the public sector, but they are saying enough is enough," he added, noting that to accept such a pay offer would make it difficult to cope with rising food and fuel costs.

The workers are holding a 24-hour strike over the pay issues but Unison reports that employers are still refusing to negotiate.

Mr Prentis commented that if the situation continues in this manner local government employees will seek higher-paying jobs elsewhere.

He noted that according to some figures councils have in excess of £100 million bank accounts yet they claim they cannot afford pay rises.

Unison notes that the strike has so far affected schools, housing, leisure, rubbish collection and residential care.

The body's Scottish secretary Matt Smith comments that employers have stayed they are "impressed" by the backing the strike has received.

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