SNP council chiefs last night threatened legal action after bin men refused to cross picket lines in a women’s equal-pay strike.

Bosses accused union leaders of arranging wildcat sit-ins of more than 600 staff at depots across Glasgow - while 8,000 female workers staged lawful industrial action.

2 Strikers marched through Glasgow Credit: Alamy Live News

But the warning last night sparked claims the SNP-run council was using “Tory anti-trade union laws” to “threaten” workers.

In a legal letter sent to GMB lawyers, the council accused the union of “unlawful industrial action” on the first day of the high-profile women’s equal pay strike.

It said cleansing, roads and park workers “refused to leave their places of employment to carry out their full range of duties” and were sent home and told they wouldn’t be paid.

The letter added: “That this pattern was repeated across each of these depots shows that this was orchestrated and planned industrial action.

2 Thousands went on strike Credit: Getty Images - Getty

It is not industrial action that is protected by the ballot under which others of the GMB’s members are striking today and tomorrow.”

It also claimed there had been “unlawful picketing” at depots involving workers not based at the sites.

The letter cited the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 and suggested wildcat strikers could be dismissed.

Council solicitor Carole Forrest wrote: “I formally call upon your client to confirm whether or not it intends to repudiate this action under section 21 of TULR(C)A 1992.

“If no repudiation is forthcoming, we reserve the right to raise proceedings against the GMB for the losses which we have sustained as a result of this unlawful action and any repetition of it tomorrow.

“I also urge your client to instruct those of its members employed in cleansing, roads and parks operations to end any further participation in industrial action of this sort.”

Union sources insist they did not orchestrate the sit-ins and pickets were at depots where there were small numbers of female workers.

A GMB spokesman said: "Many members, as a matter of individual conscience, chose to support the working class women of Glasgow by refusing to cross picket lines.

"We won't be bullied by Glasgow City Council officials using Tory anti-trade union laws to threaten our union.

"We will consider the council's letter and respond in due course."

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A council source last night said the authority did not want to follow through with the threat of action, but the authority could not allow the “precedent” of a wildcat strike of cleansing workers.

A council spokesman said: “Whether or not you agree with the concept of the law around striking, it is vital that trade unions give the council the chance to prepare for a strike and try to mitigate the damage.

"That is what Unison and the GMB have done in respect of today’s equal pay strike.

“Taking cleansing staff out on strike with no warning whatsoever and no chance to negotiate is completely unacceptable.

"We are simply asking the GMB to ensure that their members do their jobs, or hold a ballot and give us the chance to negotiate.”

Glasgow streets taken over by protesters during equal pay for women march

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