THEY wanted the city administration to hear them... and there was no way the message could have failed to penetrate.

Outside Glasgow's civic heart the noise was deafening and the determination clear.

Thousands of women - with their colleagues and families - gathered to tell Glasgow City Council to pay up.

In what is the largest equal pay strike since legislation was enacted nearly 50 years ago, 8000 woman walked out yesterday and will do so again.

The mixture of home carers, cleaners, caterers, school workers and other council staff have faced scaremongering and fears for vulnerable clients should industrial action go ahead.

But yesterday they were defiant.

GMB member Lorraine Gilmour first became involved in the equal pay fight in 2007.

She said: "Women have got a lot of patience but 12 years of fighting is far too long and the patience has run out.

"It is wonderful to see so many people coming together today from both unions.

"The council has referred to us as 'vulnerable' but they do not think we're so vulnerable that we can't go out at night, enter dangerous situations, work on our own.

"Do they think we are silly? That we can't think for ourselves?

"Well, these women are not as silly as they think we are."

Lorraine was joined at the rally by her husband William, who said he was hugely proud of his wife.

He added: "I couldn't not come out today and support the lassies.

"They are fighting for what is theirs."

Dozens of picket lines around the city were formed from 7am yesterday morning and will be there this morning also.

Women from the GMB and Unison unions gathered outside schools, workplaces and civic amenities such as the Mitchell Library and Kelvingrove Museum.

They then joined together at Glasgow Green before an impressive march to George Square.

Horns blared and placards hammered home the message from women workers in a noisy, colourful demonstration of solidarity.

Before speeches were given in the Square a minute's silence was held for the workers who have died during the equal pay fight and who will never enjoy the money they rightfully earned.

It was a sombre moment in what was a celebration as much as a protest.

Roseann Greason, 66, joined the rally in George Square having been active in helping to organise industrial action for the GMB.

Roseann was a home carer for 25 years and last week features in the Evening Times telling how her job changed in that time.

She said: "Today has been tremendous. The support from the public and the workers - men and women - has been overwhelming.

"It's been eye opening actually. We knew we had support but today has really shown how much."

Isobel Johnston turned out yesterday dressed as a carrot to push her message of "cash not carrots".

The 61-year-old was part of a first wave of equal pay claimants who were offered a pre-Christmas payout in 2005.

Some women accepted the cash and others held out - Isobel was one of those who held.

She said: "It was a hard time because it was just before Christmas and some women wanted to have a special Christmas for their families; it's a difficult time of year.

"My daughter took the payment and was given £9000. I held out and was given £19,000.

"But then the pay inequality went on and now we're saying 'cash not carrots' - we want what is ours.

"For me, it's a family affair as myself and my daughter are both home carers. I want what's right for her too."

Speaking at the rally, UNISON’s assistant general secretary Christina McAnea, said: “Today our whole union stands with Glasgow.

"Together we have taken the fight to the courts and to the streets. Councillors have come and gone but our demands for equal pay have remained the same.

"The dedication to the cause of UNISON members has been incredible, and it’s been matched by the incredible strength shown by those taking action today.”

The strike involves more than 2000 GMB members who provide round the clock home care for 87,000 service users, as well as cleaning and catering services for schools and amenities across the city.

GMB is now calling for council Chief Executive Annemarie O’Donnell to instruct her officials to return to negotiations this morning and lead the council’s representations personally.

GMB Scotland Organiser Rhea Wolfson said: “Today, the working class women of Glasgow sent out a message to their employer: “Are you listening to us now?”

"The council chief executive only needed to look out of her window in the City Chambers to realise the inevitable; her officials have to re-engage in negotiations with the women’s’ representatives.

"The turnout and togetherness of our women, along with the solidarity of their council colleagues and ordinary Glaswegians, was emotional and inspirational and will ultimately prove historic.

"It’s time for justice and come Thursday morning, we expect this council to wake up out of its complacency and get back round the negotiating table with the joint claimant organisations.”