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| Capital workers in strike action | Capital workers in strike action |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Thousands of council workers in Edinburgh have been taking part in a one-day strike in protest at threatened cuts and redundancies. | Thousands of council workers in Edinburgh have been taking part in a one-day strike in protest at threatened cuts and redundancies. |
| Employees waving placards packed Edinburgh City Chambers quadrangle on the Royal Mile from 0830 BST on Thursday in a show of strength. | Employees waving placards packed Edinburgh City Chambers quadrangle on the Royal Mile from 0830 BST on Thursday in a show of strength. |
| The 24-hour Unison strike has seen the shutdown of more than 60 nurseries, primary schools and community centres. | The 24-hour Unison strike has seen the shutdown of more than 60 nurseries, primary schools and community centres. |
| Just before 1000 BST, council officials arriving for a meeting were booed. | Just before 1000 BST, council officials arriving for a meeting were booed. |
| The strike action follows a ballot by Unison last week. A total of 1,601 workers voted in favour of the walkout, with 661 voting against, the union said. | The strike action follows a ballot by Unison last week. A total of 1,601 workers voted in favour of the walkout, with 661 voting against, the union said. |
| If these cuts are made then there will be a domino effect on the services we support Pat KerrStriking council worker class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6960697.stm">Disruption to services | |
| Mothers with their children affected by the announcement of school closures also supported a rally at the City Chambers. | Mothers with their children affected by the announcement of school closures also supported a rally at the City Chambers. |
| The crowd chanted "save our schools" in between speeches from union officials. | The crowd chanted "save our schools" in between speeches from union officials. |
| Pat Kerr, 50, a council housing project worker, said: "If these cuts are made then there will be a domino effect on the services we support. | Pat Kerr, 50, a council housing project worker, said: "If these cuts are made then there will be a domino effect on the services we support. |
| Schools and centres affected by Thursday's strike | Schools and centres affected by Thursday's strike |
| "I am angry that they are talking about having overspent the budget. How can they have when they meet monthly to discuss what they do with their money?" | "I am angry that they are talking about having overspent the budget. How can they have when they meet monthly to discuss what they do with their money?" |
| Aud Noble, 40, a mother who was supporting the strike with her children, said she was "alarmed" by the announcement of school closures in the city. | Aud Noble, 40, a mother who was supporting the strike with her children, said she was "alarmed" by the announcement of school closures in the city. |
| She said: "I have brought my children today to support this strike because I am so angry about the council's announcement to close schools including Westfield Court Nursery. | She said: "I have brought my children today to support this strike because I am so angry about the council's announcement to close schools including Westfield Court Nursery. |
| The Cast of Woody Sez played at a strike rally in Edinburgh | The Cast of Woody Sez played at a strike rally in Edinburgh |
| "The nursery provides half of the city's additional support needs places so it is ludicrous and alarming to want to shut it down." | "The nursery provides half of the city's additional support needs places so it is ludicrous and alarming to want to shut it down." |
| Duncan Smith, Unison Edinburgh branch chairman, said: "Our members are very angry because the services, which would be affected by job cuts, are very important. | Duncan Smith, Unison Edinburgh branch chairman, said: "Our members are very angry because the services, which would be affected by job cuts, are very important. |
| "I don't know if after today there will be further action but if there are cuts, we will seriously oppose them." | "I don't know if after today there will be further action but if there are cuts, we will seriously oppose them." |
| A Fringe band, called Cast of Woody Sez, was drafted in to play to the crowd. The group plays songs by North American folk singer, Woody Guthrie, who sang about the country's Depression era. | A Fringe band, called Cast of Woody Sez, was drafted in to play to the crowd. The group plays songs by North American folk singer, Woody Guthrie, who sang about the country's Depression era. |
| Darcie Deaville, 50, who plays the fiddle in the band, said: "This is the very event that Woody would have played at, so we were honoured to be asked to perform to the crowd. We support this strike." | Darcie Deaville, 50, who plays the fiddle in the band, said: "This is the very event that Woody would have played at, so we were honoured to be asked to perform to the crowd. We support this strike." |