It is believed around 200,000 members of the GMB, Unite and Unison took part in the country-wide strike yesterday (Wednesday) – although you would not have known it by looking at the picket lines in Falkirk.

Only a handful of union members gathered to support the strike action on a rainy morning outside Falkirk Council's municipal buildings.

Peter Gilmour, a solicitor in the council's law and administration department, kept a lone vigil at the rear of the municipal buildings for much of the early morning.

"I hope this strike will cause the employers to reflect on the stance they are taking and make them come back with a better offer. Given the expenses people have to meet these days, what has been offered is quite low."

An overwhelming majority of union members backed the action after rejecting a pay rise of 2.5 per cent each year for the next three years and Mr Gilmour said he hoped the poor picket turnout was not an indication of the number of people actually out on strike.

"It's entirely voluntary," he said. "If people want to picket they can come and picket, if they don't want to picket they don't have to. The whole point of this day of action is a withdrawal of labour.

"I would rather see a good turnout for the actual strike than a good turnout for the picket line."

Mick McIntosh, Unison member and retired Edinburgh Council worker, was on the pickets to show his support for his fellow union members.

He said: "I would have thought these particular employers would realise that a two per cent pay rise is actually a pay cut. The councils are quick to say they value the workers until it comes to giving them money."

One worker, who did not want to be named, suggested a sinister reason for the low turnout.

"People have been threatened with losing their weekend overtime if they don't cross the picket lines and go to work," he said.

Schools, leisure centres, libraries and other vital services were affected by the action, which ran from 10 p.m. on Tuesday to 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

Schools and nurseries made their own arrangements to contact parents and carers to indicate if their children should attend. Falkirk High School informed parents on Tuesday afternoon the school would be open for all S3 to S6 pupils, but S1 and S2 classes would not be going ahead, while all Braes High School pupils were told the school would remain open.

Libraries in the area were closed, as were Callendar House, Kinneil Museum, the Mariner Centre and sports centres in Denny, Bo'ness, Hallglen, Polmont and Woodlands. Refuse collection, street cleansing and grounds maintenance were not operating on the day and neither were social work facilities and local housing offices.

In an agreement between the council and the unions certain 'life and limb' emergency services were maintained, including some social work cover, homelessness services and housing repairs.

Glyn Hawker, head of bargaining for Unison, was also on Wednesday's picket line. She confirmed more industrial action would soon follow if the employers fail to come up with a deal.

"That has always been the strategy from the start – one day of all out strike and if that doesn't bring about more discussions we would look to carry out selective action and possible other strike days.

"We will be looking at particular groups who we will bring out on strike for a number of days rather than have everyone out. We would look to target the groups that will have the biggest impact on the council."

"There has been quite a lot of press comment from Cosla, stating they are willing to meet with us. That's a lie – they haven't come anywhere near us since we informed them of the strike action.

"This was always about getting the employers back to the negotiating table."

Michael Cook, Cosla spokesman, said: "The issues are difficult and complex and need to be carefully thought through. However, as soon as possible, we will arrange talks with the trade unions in a bid to reach a settlement which takes account of the soaring cost of living which affects councils just as much as our workers."