Academics vote on strikes

University lecturers could take strike action over pay in February or March if this month's industrial action ballot results in a "yes" vote.

Their union, the AUT, is currently balloting its 47,000 members after rejecting a new pay package which would provide increases of 6.44% over two years. The union argues that pay for academics and senior support staff in universities has fallen by 40% compared to the rest of the workforce.

Any action will include an initial national strike, followed by regional strikes.