STRIKING lecturers and staff held face to face talks with university bosses in Southampton today as part of ongoing industrial action over pay.

The University and College Union (UCU), UNISON and Unite were today taking a third day of coordinated strike action in an increasingly bitter row over pay.

Staff were on picket lines at universities including The University of Southampton, Winchester and Southampton Solent early this morning in protest over a pay offer of 1 per cent.

At the University of Southampton a rally held at the Highfield Campus saw striking staff meet with senior management to discuss the issues.

Deputy Vice chancellor professor Adam Wheeler along with other management sat down with union representatives following a rally by more than 60 staff.

UCU Southampton president, Dr Eric Silverman, said: “It was a good discussion we had. They listened to what we had to say. Clearly the pay is set nationally so there is not much they can do. We just want them to represent the concerns and feelings of their staff at their university.”

He added it was difficult to say how many staff had walked out today but added that there was “still substantial support” including from the university's Student's Union surrounding the industrial action.