TRADE Unions are calling for public support ahead of a mass demonstration against Glasgow City Council cuts this week.

The lobby, taking place on Thursday, is a joint initiative between Unite, Unison, GMB, EIS and UCATT unions.

Members of all the unions will gather outside the city chambers to protest against the £250m of spending cuts made by Glasgow's local authority in the last five years and the loss of thousands of jobs.

Earlier this year the local authority announced 3000 jobs could potentially be axed in a bid to save cash.

Now trade unions are calling for members of the public to get in touch with their local councillors, MPs and MSPs if they have been affected by cuts to local authority services.

Brian Smith, of trade union Unison, said: "If people have examples of how budget cuts to date have impacted on council services then they should complain to their councillor.

"[They can] also get involved in fighting the cuts by joining a local anti-cuts group or setting one up."

Mr Smith, along with representatives from the four other unions, are fighting for a no-cuts budget and have said they would pledge support to any politician or party that would support the strategy.

He said: "Glasgow City Council politicians have a choice – make the Tory cuts or do not.

"We call on all elected politicians in the city to use all available financial mechanisms to hold-off any further cuts whilst leading a fight to win more money for the city.

"The council could use some of its reserves and borrowing powers, supported by the legal financial process of capitalisation, to fill the two year £103m hole expected in April 2016.

"This would allow time and space to build a mass campaign of elected councillors, trade unions, user groups and local communities with the objective of winning more money from the Holyrood and Westminster governments.

"The trade unions will support any council politician or council political grouping who adopts this strategy of no more cuts."

Glasgow City Council previously said savings were needed as the city was " hit with a disproportionate share of the Scottish cuts over the last seven years."

Treasurer Councillor Paul Rooney said he welcomed the unions' cazll to oppose further cuts to the city, and added: "The proposal to borrow to avoid savings would not be legal, but we want to work with our colleagues in the union movement to balance the budget while protecting services and jobs."