COUNCIL workers, teaching assistants and librarians in West Devon and East Cornwall are taking part in a two- day strike over pay which ends today (Thursday.) Picket lines were set up at West Devon Borough Council offices in Tavistock and Okehampton, Caradon District Council offices, Tavistock and Okehampton colleges, and Callington Library was closed as public sector union Unison refused to accept a pay offer of 2.45%. Unison's regional organiser Iain Andrews who was at the Kilworthy Park council offices yesterday (Wednesday) told the Times: 'Local government workers, for the most part, are low paid — I do not think most people realise that — and pay rises have been below inflation for the last three years. The offer of 2.45% is the straw that broke the camel's back. 'They are going to offer us half the going rate of inflation and members have had enough.' Mr Andrews said there were 12 borough council workers taking part in the strike but many more were in support of what they were doing. 'We realise the pressures that people are under and that some people cannot afford to take action,' he said. Unison is asking for a 6% pay rise or 50p an hour, whichever is greater. Administration and statistics officer for the council's environmental services Claire Spencer said: 'If we do not make a stand, in years to come we will find ourselves falling lower and lower. I am on one of the lower rates and have take a big pay cut working for local government from when I worked in the private sector in Dorset. I enjoy my job and do it because I believe in what I am doing but it will come to a point where I will really need to get out and do something else . 'The council is losing good staff because people cannot afford the rising cost of mortgages, petrol and food on the wages that they get.' There are 27 schools across Devon which have been affected by the strike action and 28 in Cornwall. Ferry workers at Torpoint were also involved in the strike.