Around 300 workers attended the rally, where speakers included Unison Dundee branch secretary Rory Malone, GMB regional organiser John Begley, and Unison’s Scottish organiser for bargaining, Glyn Hawker.

Ms Hawker said industrial action would continue if employers did not “sit up and take notice” of the strength of feeling about pay.

She said Cosla, which is leading negotiations in the dispute on behalf of all 32 Scottish local authorities, had been “disingenuous” in its statements about getting back around the table.

She said Unison had always been willing to talk but had received no such approach from Cosla.

“We shouldn’t have had to be out on strike today. The employers made a number of claims about being willing to talk to us but haven’t approached us,” she said.

“We are very disappointed about that and hope they will now meet with us very soon and we will see an improved pay offer. We are prepared to take further industrial action. We have got a mandate for action from the previous ballot.”

Unite shop steward Jenny Douglas said, “We need to send a clear message out to Cosla, the politicians and the media that this three-year deal is too long and too low.”

Scottish Finance Secretary and North Tayside MSP John Swinney said today he regretted any inconvenience to the public as consequence of the strike.

“It is for the unions and local authorities to resolve this dispute and avoid further disruption,” he said.

“That can only be done through negotiation and we are encouraging both sides to get round the table.”