Over 5,000 council trade workers are to hold a one–day strike, which could be repeated every two weeks until an agreement is reached in a row over pay.

Trade workers such as plasterers and electricians for councils including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Fife are said to be unhappy about being forced to work longer hours than council colleagues.

They will walk out today for 24-hours and have planned to do the same every second Monday.

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According to Unite union its members worked 39 hours while other local authority employees worked for 37 hours.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) said a pay offer had been rejected.

Unite said the offer of a 2.45% rise was rejected because workers for other local authorities got more.

Just over five years ago other council workers in Scotland had their hours reduced from 39 to 37 without a reduction in pay.

Unite National officer John Allott said his members had been treated with contempt by Scottish local government employers.

"I hope employers will see sense and come back to the negotiating table so that further planned industrial action can be avoided," he said.

(GK)