Caterers walk over 'insulting' pay offer

The college's entire kitchen walked out on Monday morning after rejecting contractor Sodexo's pay deal of just £6.43 an hour - a raise of just over a half penny.

GMB organiser Richard Leonard said they were determined to win at least the living wage of £7.20 an hour, widely accepted as the minimum cost of living in Scotland.

Mr Leonard hailed the strike as a success.

"We have 100 per cent of the workforce out on strike.

"Sodexo has bussed in a few managers and brought two people in by taxi all the way from south Lanarkshire, which begs the question - who is footing the bill?"

Mr Leonard did not speculate on future actions but said the ban on overtime would remain.

Meanwhile the union's demands were "both reasoned and moderate."

"We know it is the clear policy of the Scottish government, every Scottish local authority and every health board in Scotland to be a living wage employer.

"Only last month, in the local area Central Scotland Police adopted this policy.

"So there is no reason on Earth why such a policy could not be introduced at the Scottish Police College.

"It is simply a matter of priorities," he said.

Sodexo is one of the world's biggest facilities management contractors with 413,000 workers in 80 countries.

The company declined requests for comment.