Chairman of the Unison branch at West Devon Borough Council, John Milverton, said it appeared the overwhelming majority of staff had joined the strike. The borough employs around 110 staff, 90 per cent of whom are members of Unison.
Mr Milverton said the strike action was in support of a pay claim that would prevent the continuing fall in real wages for council workers year by year in comparison with the national average and other public sector workers.
Mr Milverton said two-thirds of council workers earned less than £13,000 a year.
'Striking is very much an action of last resort and the last time there was a national strike was twenty-three years ago. The fact that council workers are prepared to strike is an indication of how angry members are at the continual erosion of their already low wages,' said Mr Milverton.
He said all borough services from planning to car parking were affected by the strike.
But borough council treasurer Lesley Halton said although the offices were quiet, the majority of borough services were running as normal.
Ms Halton said: 'In West Devon, because so many services are carried out by contractors, we have been protected from the effects of the strike. Frontline services to the public continued as normal.'
Ms Halton said refuse and recycling services were running as usual, council tax and business rates departments were in operation and the planning office was run with reduced staff.
Tavistock College was also forced to close yesterday as a result of strike action by ancillary staff taking part in the nationwide dispute.
Tavistock College principal John Simes said he had reached the decision to close the school because it had 'not been possible for the college to ensure adequate health and safety cover and supervision for students'.
He said it was also not possible for the college to send and receive communications either by letter or by telephone, which given the large area the college site covered, could present health and safety problems.
Mr Simes said the members of staff who took this action were 'loyal and dedicated colleagues, committed to the well being of our students' and who 'provided outstanding support to our teaching staff.
'They have decided to take this action with extreme reluctance.'
Mr Simes said his view was that the employers and the union involved must reach a settlement, in the interests of everyone.
The decision to close the college was taken following consultation with Devon County Council, other schools, the Secondary Heads' Association and the chair of governors.
Parents were informed of the closure on Monday evening, when students were given letters to take home outlining the reasons for the closure.
Tavistock and Okehampton libraries also closed their doors yesterday, as both were affected by the industrial action.
The strike also included Devon County Council workers, but major
disruption to vital county council services was avoided.
Among the services safeguarded by strike exemption were county council residential care homes, meals on wheels, and special care day services for people with learning disabilities.
Residents in East Cornwall were also affected by the action.
A spokesperson said the county council was unable to provide a refuse collection service, recycling collections had continued as normal, but garden waste collection was suspended.
Central control and warden services for people in sheltered accommodation were not affected, but the council's planning and building control offices were closed and site inspections were cancelled.