Hundreds of staff at Oxford's two universities are being balloted on strike action over pay, writes Madeleine Pennell.

The trade union Unison, which represents non-academic workers, is balloting its members at universities and higher education colleges across the country.

Technicians, cleaners, administrators, catering staff and librarians would be among the workers affected.

The union claims its members could earn between 20 and 30 per cent more if they did similar jobs elsewhere.

But support staff have been offered just a three per cent rise, while manual staff have been awarded four per cent.

Ballot papers are to be sent to members at the beginning of November and strike action could take place within weeks.

The ballot follows a survey in August, in which 83 per cent of members said they wanted industrial action.

John Appleton, chairman of the Oxford Brookes branch of the union said: "There are between 400 and 500 members at Brookes. They are the people who keep the place running. There are two issues, national bargaining and pay.

"Employers are saying they are prepared to bargain over pay nationally, but nothing else, and we want our conditions decided nationally as well. We hope to strike during November and we are considering other action such as non-co-operation."

Alan Jenkins, Oxford Univ- ersity and Colleges branch secretary of Unison, said that his members had given a resounding 'yes' to the question of whether to hold industrial action.

Jim Bradshaw, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Oxford Brookes University, said: "Should the result of the ballot be for strike action, then the University will make every effort to ensure the effect on students' academic programmes is minimised."