Some 300 porters, cleaners and catering staff held a 48-hour stoppage at the Royal Infirmary on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Three further days of strike action are planned for this week after the new offer from French company Sodexho was not accepted.

Unison said there had been some progress after a day of negotiations with the firm on Friday, but the improved terms were "too vague".

I really don't think we have the mandate from members to recommend the deal as it stands

Carolyn Leckie Unison

The unions have been campaigning for a basic wage of £5 an hour, plus a return to NHS conditions on overtime, sick pay, holidays and pensions.

Sodexho, the private catering company which holds the contract to provide the services at the hospital, has offered £5 an hour from next April, plus some improvement in conditions.

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

They plan to take the same action next week if the pay dispute is not resolved.

Unison branch secretary Carolyn Leckie said the union could not recommend members accept the deal as it stands.

Ancillary staff

"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," she said.

"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 brought in staff from elsewhere last week to help feed patients and keep wards clean as part of its contract, after workers staged a two-day stoppage at the hospital.

Unions have been campaigning for ancilliary staff to be taken back under the control of public sector health trusts.