SCORES of trade unionists picketed the West Dunbartonshire SNP council today, as it voted through cuts to facility time.

At an extraordinary full council meeting, councillors from the Labour and Community parties sought a moratorium on the leadership’s plans.

All out! So many workers have turned out for meeting protesting West Dunbartonshire's cuts to facility time, it's been moved to the car park pic.twitter.com/K36JJM9v8Y

— Conrad Landin (@conradlandin) April 3, 2018

Nationalist councillors are cutting the number of trade union convener posts from the full-time equivalent of 3.4 to just two.

Trade unionists believe the move is designed to weaken their muscle in resisting future staffing cuts at the local authority.

Around 60 council workers protested outside the council meeting in support of a moratorium. So many workers wanted to attend the meeting itself that it had to be moved to a larger room.

But the council’s SNP majority blocked the motion from passing, putting forward an amendment backing the leadership position.

Clydebank TUC secretary Tam Morrison told the Star that the plan was the brainchild of the council’s paid officers rather than politicians.

“It’s the senior officers driving this, but they’re going to make it difficult for workers to attend disciplinaries,” he said.

He argued this would make employment relations less efficient and more expensive for management.

Mr Morrison said of the meeting: “Only two SNP councillors spoke, the rest sat on their hands. They looked grey — they were obviously very uncomfortable, but they voted it through.”

A council spokesman said: "Facility time will continue to be protected for our trade union representatives in line with our facility agreement."