The strike action in Aberdeen will continue into Friday

Staff had voted overwhelmingly in favour of starting a 48-hour stoppage, following the collapse of talks between Aberdeen City Council and unions.

The wrangle is over equal pay legislation, with workers claiming thousands of pounds in back pay.

The T&G union said support has been fantastic. The council insisted its offer was one of the best in Scotland.

Strikers were out in force at the gates of schools throughout Aberdeen on Thursday and the action will continue on Friday.

The union had already received a mandate for strike action but hoped talks earlier this week would reach a compromise position, putting the stoppage on hold.

But the negotiations collapsed after several hours earlier this week.

This strike will be a wake-up call Tommy Campbell T&G union

About 30 of Aberdeen's 77 schools were closed by the strike action on Thursday and it is thought about 40 will be affected on Friday.

The staff, mainly female catering, cleaning, clerical and care workers, claimed they were owed money because of equal pay legislation, some worth up to �25,000.

The council is proposing to give out �13.5m in retrospective pay to about 2,000 staff.

One striking worker, Aberdeen Grammar kitchen manager Lucy Gerrie, 48, told BBC Scotland at the gates of the school where she has worked for 20 years: "I am very disappointed as I would rather be working.

"But we have not been happy for years, we are due that money and the council should pay up.

"We feel sorry for the kids, but they seem to support us.

Council frustrated

"We understand parents are aggrieved but we hope we are getting the message across."

T&G union spokesman Tommy Campbell said outside Gilcomstoun School: "The support has been fantastic.

"The council has misjudged the situation, they have undervalued the staff.

"This strike will be a wake-up call."

Kitchen staff are among those on strike in the city

And Jack Dromey, the deputy general secretary of the T&G, sent his message of support while speaking at the union's general executive council meeting.

He said: "How can it be that Aberdeen City Council has let this situation develop?

"All our members, the vast majority of whom are in the low paid army of vital public servants, are asking for is justice.

"Their union supports them. The public support them and parents support them. It is time for the council to do the decent thing."

However one parent said: "It's frustrating as the children were off with the snow and now we are hit with this."

Council leaders said they were frustrated and dismayed and claimed the offer was the best made by any local authority in Scotland.

They said action would delay the process of making payments to the council staff.

Council corporate director Peter Leonard said: "It's sad that we've made such a big step forward to try and break the deadlock and for whatever reason the unions don't seem to want to play ball."