Striking council election workers marched on Renfrewshire House as residents went to the polls today.
And they vowed to escalate action if no resolution is forthcoming.
The craft workers walked on Renfrewshire Council's Paisley HQ from the authority's Underwood Road recycling centre late this morning. where they had been staging a picket during a bitter pay dispute.
Industrial action carried out by Unite members threatened to bring "chaos" to polling at the Scottish Local Government elections.
Workers from the authority's Building Services division - who normally carry out vital election services, including construction and dismantling of polling stations and delivery of ballot boxes to the election count - walked out in the wake of a pay row.
James O’Connell, Unite's industrial officer, told the Express: "We've had a great, great turnout. There's a huge impact on the election, we know that has major implications for the council."
He claimed private contractors had been drafted in to ensure polling services and added: "What we do know is that the rest of the workforce we have spoken to have confirmed their support and said they would not do any of Building Services' work."
The union rep continued: "Resolve is strong for us, this is the last place that we wanted to be but this is only the start for us, we will escalate the strike action and the overtime ban going forward if there is no resolution."
He said that the cash the workers want to see does "not amount to a lot of money".
They were angered after Renfrewshire Council bosses moved to "remove" all craft workers from roles during the election after they were notified of the intention to strike.
We told earlier this week how council bosses had drawn up contingency plans to allow election polling to go ahead.
Sources revealed yesterday that managers were to be drafted in to help ensure the election goes to plan.
Unite union members covered by Renfrewshire Council's local authority craft agreement, earlier voted unanimously to back strike action.
Around 200 tradesmen and women, along with apprentices, working for the Building Services wing were due to down tools in action lasting from 8am on Monday to 1pm today (Friday) - covering the election run up, as well as polling day and the subsequent count.
An overtime ban for members will also run in tandem.
Union leaders had earlier warned of "growing anger" amongst staff over their treatment by Renfrewshire Council, whom they accused of playing "mind games".
They have been further fuelled by an offer described as "below inflation" during pay negotiations.
Unite say Renfrewshire Council's decision to "remove" their members from their duties is potentially a breach of the Employment Relations Act (1999), which would render it illegal.
They have also accused council chiefs of reneging on an agreed pay award backdated to July 2019.
A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Council said: "As we were notified by Unite the Union that their members would undertake industrial action during the dates of the local government election, we have put in place contingency arrangements to ensure it continues to run as planned.
“The election is being delivered independently by Renfrewshire’s returning officer, with the council supporting its delivery, and we would encourage everyone registered to vote to have their say in the Scottish local government
election on May 5.
“We remain fully committed to continuing positive negotiations with Unite the Union to find an agreed position for our Building Services workforce as quickly as possible, with a recent offer to our staff having been agreed with the union and recommended for acceptance by them to their members, but was, unfortunately, rejected by the workforce."
