Jack McConnell blamed intransigent men for the pay dispute

Mr McConnell urged the two sides to resume talks and accept some "give and take" to secure a settlement.

Nursery nurses are striking over pay and conditions, although some councils have struck local pay agreements.

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) and Unison agreed that the dispute has gone on too long.

'Ridiculous situation'

At present nursery nurses earn about �13,000 a year but they want an extra �4,000 to reflect additional duties they have had to undertake.

Speaking during a media conference in Edinburgh, the first minister said both sides should make every effort to resolve the dispute.

"The fact they are not talking to each other is becoming a national disgrace and it needs to be dealt with quickly," he said.

Nursery nurses have been striking over pay and conditions

While women were mainly being affected by the dispute, as mothers or as nursery nurses, a small number of intransigent men were to blame, Mr McConnell added.

"These people are being affected by a small number of guys, frankly, at the top of the trade union and the top of the local authorities who are not even talking to each other. It is a ridiculous situation," he said.

"They should be round the table, publicly or privately, having discussions, getting the dispute finished so they can have a national review of their carers' conditions."

Angela Lynes, the chair of Unison's negotiators, denied there was a team of guys at the top of the union.

"It is the nursery nurse members who have made the decisions all the way along the line," she said.

"Although I do wonder if the nursery nurse profession was primarily staffed by guys whether they would have had to endure such low pay for so long."

'Willing to talk'

Ms Lynes said she completely agreed that the dispute has gone on too long.

"We have been willing to talk with Cosla since day one and they have been refusing to talk to us at a Scottish level."

Cosla president Pat Watters said the first minister's comments should act as "a useful reminder" to everyone involved in the dispute.

LOCAL SETTLEMENTS Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Clackmannanshire Dumfries and Galloway East Renfrewshire Falkirk Highland Perth Shetland South Lanarkshire Stirling West Lothian

"We should all redouble our efforts in a bid to reach local settlements," he said.

"In fact, I am writing to Unison today with a view to getting them in for talks to see what we can do, short of a national settlement, to bring these local disputes to an end."

He added that he agreed with Mr McConnell's comments.

"The fact that this dispute has dragged on for this length of time is becoming a national disgrace and we share his frustration and the frustration of the parents and children affected," he said.

West Lothian Council became the 12th council to strike a local deal on Tuesday.