Local government union Unison is today holding a day of action in Scotland to campaign against cuts in local services and jobs.

Its members are joining demonstrations to call on the UK and Scottish governments to end austerity.

The union says local government has taken the brunt of cuts in Scotland.

It says 40,000 of the 50,000 job losses in devolved services have been in local government and a further 15,000 more are expected to go in the next few years.

Mark Ferguson, chair of UNISON's Scottish local government committee, said: ‘We are calling on all councils to give assurances that there will be no compulsory redundancies in Scottish councils.

'Any council that tries to manage this situation by sacking workers will find themselves facing strike action.

'We are looking for councillors to stand up for their staff.'