A GROUP of refuse workers who walked out in solidarity with equal pay strikers have warned of further industrial action if they are not paid.

Around 1,000 male staff at nine depots around the city refused to break picket lines last month as 8,000 women went on strike.

Glasgow City Council said it will not take disciplinary action against what was dubbed an 'illegal strike'.

But now a group of the men who refused to work during the October 23 and 24 strikes have asked for pay.

READ MORE: Are the men right to ask for pay?

A GMB Scotland shop steward from one cleansing depot contacted the city's infrastructure chief Andy Waddell.

In a letter to Mr Waddell, the union rep suggests further strikes could occur if the men are not given wages.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: "The council doesn’t tend to take disciplinary action when staff choose not to cross picket lines.

"However, it does take the view that they are taking part in the strike.

"If you are on strike, you obviously don’t get paid."

Cleansing workers claim they asked for alternate duties so they would not have to cross the picket line.

Where this was not an option, the men were sent home.

Rhea Wolfson, GMB Senior Organiser, said the call for pay comes from a local level but is indicative of a breakdown in relations between staff and council bosses.

Ms Wolfson said: " We know there is no free pass when it comes to industrial action and workers acting in solidarity with their fellow members – and we would not support anything that is unfair or discriminatory.

"However, it is true that there is significant unrest in LES and industrial relations are not in a good place; a situation made worse by the fact that the council threatened to sack workers who supported our striking women.

READ MORE: Are the men right to ask for pay?

"There is also a perception that groups of staff have been treated differently by the employer, given the council has been unable to address concerns that some staff who did not work normally on the strike days were fully paid."

Refuse has not been collected in certain parts of the city due to the strikes and Ms Wolfson went on to suggest clearing a rubbish backlog might be a focus for the council.

However, this would involve paying overtime to the men who took unofficial strike action.

The union official added: "Ultimately, none of this is helping to clear the city’s waste backlog, a problem made worse by the council’s decision to drop a collection cycle, which the staff remain ready and willing to tackle.

"But let’s be absolutely clear the council can end this uncertainty tomorrow by sitting down with us to de-escalate the situation, which is exactly what we have asked them to do."

Equal pay campaigner and home carer Frances Stojilkovic said: “These cleansing workers who came out to support us and not cross the picket line should definitely get their two days wages back.

"And if they don't then us woman will come out in solidarity with them as we will back them 100 per cent just like they did with us.

"We are so proud that they all came united with us even when they faced getting sacked.

"I have the utmost respect for these guys.”

Meanwhile, councillor Martin McElroy will put a motion before full council today, seconded by Eva Murray.

It states the council: "Believes that a threat of legal action towards striking workers is unacceptable.

"Council therefore resolves to ensure that no worker will face legal action for standing in solidarity with striking workers.”

It comes after threats from the council to Eastbank Academy teacher Victoria Wainwright, who refused to cross the picket line.

The motion also references threats of disciplinary action that were made to cleansing workers but later withdrawn by the council.

However, no action is to be taken a council source indicated, and Labour have been accused of “hijacking” the strike.

A city government source said: “We’ve been clear that no legal action will be taken. Labour know that no legal action will be.

“Councillor McElroy could’ve shown solidarity when his own party was in power but instead did absolutely nothing to advance pay justice for the women his colleagues discriminated against.

“A national disgrace when leading this city, Glasgow Labour are now a source of national derision with their shameless attempts to hijack this strike and rewrite history for their own ends. They have clearly learnt nothing.”