Hospital staff end strike action

Sodexho, the private company providing cleaning services to the hospital, has agreed to pay the workers £5 an hour.

Staff in turn agreed new arrangements for overtime and shift work.

Jim Devine for the public service union Unison, said agreement had been reached after "protracted" talks.

The 300 caterers, cleaners and porters first took strike action on 29 July.

Differences over terms and conditions for contract staff employed by the company had proved to be a burning issue.

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

Sodexho used staff from elsewhere during the stoppages.

'Sad state of affairs'

Mr Devine told BBC Radio Scotland that while workers at the hospital were happy with the new deal the broader issue of pay needed closer examination.

He said: "It's a sad state of affairs in 2002, but what we have negotiated is a basic wage of £5 an hour for staff.

"They will get an unsociable hours payment of 20%, three months sick pay and another three months half pay.

Patient care

"This has been the embarrassment of this dispute - that staff can be on £4.30 an hour, with no sick pay, no pension and no extra duty payments."

Mr Devine congratulated the union officials who secured the agreement.

He said the main thrust of the campaign had been designed to improve patient care.

"If you speak to any private contractor in Scotland, because of the poor rates of pay that prevail - their turnover is 70 to 80%.

"If you want to recruit and retain quality staff then the reality is that you have to pay quality wages."