Lecturers at Oxford College of Further Education will vote next month on whether to take strike action, after rejecting a pay offer designed to stave off industrial action.

Members of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education have called for a two-day strike over low pay.

Lecturers and members of other unions at the Oxpens Road college want a substantial pay rise, to bring them into line with school teachers and public sector employees.

They unanimously dismissed a 1.5 per cent pay offer, describing it as insulting.

Any strike action involving NATFHE's 180 members at the college would effectively close it down.

It could also affect teaching at Abingdon and Witney College, North Oxfordshire College in Banbury, Ryecotewood College in Thame, and Henley College.

The pay claim is the first joint claim in the union's history and involves members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, the General Municipal and Boilermakers, and the Transport and General Workers Union.

The unions want a minimum starting salary of £11,000 for all support staff, and new pay scales to enable quicker career progression.

But Paul Mackney, NATFHE general secretary said the 1.5 per cent pay offer was a slap in the face.

He said the offer would widen the pay gap between colleges and schools. Pay for FE lecturers is already as much as 12 per cent below that of school teachers.

Mr Mackney said: "Our members will be livid at this derisory offer. We expect they will respond by voting with their feet. NATFHE will be balloting college staff for two days of strike action in May."

NATFHE secretary Barry Lovejoy said: "We agreed to make a joint claim to the employers because we believed they were serious about tackling the appalling problem of low pay and morale.

"On the basis of this pathetic offer it seems they have turned their back on this objective."

The vice principal of Oxford College, John Kelly, said: "An offer has been made, but it doesn't seem to be a closing point in terms of negotiations. To respond with a ballot for industrial action seems to be premature."