Following the four-day strike, which ended on Monday, East Dunbartonshire Council employees at the Mavis Valley waste transfer station and Hilton Depot in Bishopbriggs will down tools again this week.

Staff are furious over the 'single status' agreement which could result in salary cuts of up to 25 per cent and a loss of allowances such as overtime and weekend pay.

Full-time official for general union GMB, Stephen Baillie, said despite some residents losing out on having their bins emptied, strikers were delighted with the support they had received.

He said: "Lots of members of the public were giving us a positive response. We explained what we were doing and they were very supportive.

"As a result, there will be a repeat of the industrial action this week."

East Dunbartonshire Chief Executive Sue Bruce told the Herald she was 'extremely disappointed' industrial action ballots were held while single status negotiations are ongoing.

She said: "The GMB took the decision to ballot only their 64 members based in the cleansing department rather than the 260 members they have council-wide and only 47 voted for strike which is 18 per cent of all GMB members.

"For UNISON, less than half of the membership participated in their ballot and only 23 per cent of their members voted for strike.

"Overall, only 12 per cent of employees voted for this strike action."

The second strike will take place at Mavis Valley and the Hilton Depot from Friday, May 16, until Tuesday, May 20.