MORE than 100 trade unionists and community activists converged on West Dumbartonshire Council offices today to fight against service cuts.

The Dumbarton rally, organised by Clydebank TUC, came together as councillors met to set an annual budget which threatened cuts of up to £14 million, including a £300,000 cut to education budgets.

Before entering the chamber to propose a no cuts amendment, West Dunbartonshire Community Party councillor Jim Bolan said: “Our services are collapsing and the time now is to fight, to demand a needs-based budget.”

GMB Scotland youth committee’s Nathan Hennebry told the rally: “Today, behind me in this very building the likelihood is that cuts will go through, no matter how hard we shout out here.

“The question then is, how do we respond? We respond in solidarity by linking our various independent unions together to show that an attack on one of us is an attack on us all.”

Before the meeting, a spokesperson for West Dunbartonshire Council said no decisions had yet been taken, adding: “Officers were asked to develop all viable options to deliver savings this year and in future.”