Refuse collections in Dumfries have been affected

In the Borders, 22 primary schools and seven secondary schools have been closed by the industrial action.

While in Dumfries and Galloway, 19 primaries have shut with 10 secondaries fully closed and a further four open only to pupils in later years.

Refuse collection, street cleaning and social work were other areas hit, with only critical cover guaranteed.

On the picket line outside council headquarters in Dumfries Unison regional spokesman Graham Abrines said the response to the strike may have been more than the 4,000 members forecast.

"I think it might be more than that," he said. "We know there are a lot of offices that have just not opened at all."

"We know there are a number of schools that were not on the list and we believe that all the DLOs have been shut.

"I think you could say the response has been very good.

'Very unfair'

"I think the message to the government is they need to listen to us - they are responsible for causing this."

Eileen Vernon, lending librarian at the Ewart Library in Dumfries, said she felt it was important to join the picket line.

"I feel it is something that is not really going to affect me personally but I feel it is important for people that have worked for the council for a long time and suddenly the rules have been changed," she said.

That view was echoed by family support worker Rosanna Pierro, who has 28 years' service with Dumfries and Galloway Council.

"I have worked all my life for social work and I don't feel I should be treated like this - it is very unfair," she said.

Council workers on the picket line outside headquarters in Dumfries

"Obviously we apologise to the public for the inconvenience," added Unison branch secretary Marion Stewart. "But these are not high paid workers.

"These are home carers, roads men repairing the roads, dustmen emptying the rubbish - it is the normal workers affected by this," she said.

Dumfries and Galloway Council reported a wide range of services hit by the strike, including libraries, swimming pools, trading standards and environmental health.

In the Borders the authority said postal services had been affected with Royal Mail employees refusing to cross picket lines.