STAFF at a Hampshire university are balloting for strike action over a “disgusting” 20 per cent pay cut.

UNISON members working at Southampton University called for action after bosses at the Highfield site announced cuts to wages of 42 support staff who look after students overnight.

One worker who did not want to be named said: “The support staff receive no specialist training but we are out in all types of weather working a twelve hour shift. It’s disgusting what they are doing. We will lose around £6,000 a year.

“We are dealing with suicide, drunken students, sometimes they are abusive, body fluids, we are dealing with everything. You might get a girl who’s been attacked, self-harming, students lying in bushes – you wouldn’t believe what we have to deal with.”

But UNISON say they have been told by university managers that the service is “currently too expensive”.

UNISON’s head of higher education for the south east, Mike Wilson, said: “The staff are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of around 6,000 students in the university’s halls of residence.

“Following below-inflation pay rises and the decimation of local public services, they just cannot afford a 20 per cent pay cut.”

And the union says the university has “refused” to enter into negotiations.

Mr Wilson added: “Strike action is always a last resort for our members. However, with the university refusing to negotiate, a decade of declining pay has left our members with little choice but to conduct this ballot.”

A spokesperson for Southampton University said: “The University of Southampton is unique in its approach to ‘out of hours’ support for students in halls, offering dedicated, trained staff on-shift providing an ‘awake’ service throughout the evening and overnight.”

They added that only “one in three” students knows about the service and the university is “reviewing” its structure.

“Following a detailed consultation with staff, including extensive liaison with trade unions from which changes have been made to our original proposals, we are launching a new team dedicated to Student Life. This team will enhance the current service by moving to halls-based pastoral care, open to all students at the University, 24 hours a day, seven days a week – with a greater emphasis on proactive and preventative work.

“These improvements mean it is necessary to reorganise the current staffing structure. In all cases, we are also looking to ensure consistency of pay and conditions for all staff working unsocial hours across the university. In this particular instance, we are working closely with 42 colleagues in residences support who are directly affected. Any changes to pay are related to shift allowance and not basic salary.”

As previously reported, Southampton University recently announced a £300 million cash injection through a public bond, which comes in the form of a loan from city investors.

The ballot will close tomorrow.