HUNDREDS of council staff picketed East Dunbartonshire's head office in Kirkintilloch as four days of strikes got underway.

All schools and nurseries will be closed after members of Unison, Unite and GMB walked out in an ongoing row over proposed changes to employment terms and conditions.

Sixty three schools and nurseries are shut until next Tuesday.

The Evening Times reported how parents hit out at the council over a lack of communication.

They said they only heard of the strike at 2pm the day before and said it caused significant disruption.

Bin collections, libraries, museums and cemeteries are among other council services to be affected.

No teachers chose to go on strike; however, a lack of other staff has raised fears for pupil safety.

Trade unions are said to have rejected an opportunity on Wednesday to hold further talks with the local authority.

Unite industrial officer Kenny Jordan said: "Unite members at East Dunbartonshire Council have shown their resolution by strongly voting for industrial action.

"The savage cuts being proposed to terms and conditions, and making our members work harder and longer for less will not go unopposed.

"If there are efficiencies to be made, then they should be sought elsewhere and not from the hardest-working and lowest-paid workers who are already stretched to the brink while trying to do their very best for the people of East Dunbartonshire."

Proposed changes include the reduction of annual leave by three days, removing "enhanced overtime" pay as well as less money for working "unsocial hours".

Ann Davie, the council's depute chief executive for education, people and business, said: "The industrial action is being held in response to changes in employee terms and conditions which have been proposed in order to save jobs."

She said the trades unions lodged their notifications of strike action pending ongoing negotiations which concluded at midday on Wednesday.

In a statement on Wednesday evening, she said: "A further offer made this morning to avert strike action was regrettably not accepted and at lunchtime the strike action was confirmed.

"There are significant disruptions to council services which are detailed on the council website and have been communicated through social media.

"The council made every effort to avert this strike action and we are deeply disappointed that it is proceeding."