Ancillary workers at a major Glasgow hospital have escalated strike action after pay talks broke down.

The 300 caterers, cleaners and porters at Glasgow Royal Infirmary have begun a three-day walkout following unanimous rejection of a �5-an-hour pay offer.

Management from private employer Sodexho and unions spent several hours in talks on Friday in an effort to resolve the dispute.

Unions say the offer is too vague

However, differences over terms and conditions for contract staff employed by the company have proved to be a burning issue.

The workers began further strike action at midnight on Monday and that is expected to last three days.

They are planning to strike for a further three days next week if the pay dispute is not resolved.

Unison branch secretary Carolyn Leckie said the union could not recommend acceptance of the latest offer.

She said: "The way things stand at the moment, Sodexho are saying they will come back with improved terms and conditions by 2005 which is a long way off and too vague.

"We are happy to talk to Sodexho again but they need to put a better offer on the table - the workers are being treated as second-class citizens."

Sodexho used staff from elsewhere last week when workers staged a two-day stoppage.