Staff at Southampton University will walk out after voting for strike action over pay cut plans.

Unison members from the residences support night shift will be striking for 24 hours on Wednesday over plans to cut pay by between 18 and 20%.

A spokesman for Unison said the union had made alternative proposals to the university, but "the university has rejected them and has refused to negotiate".

Mike Wilson, Unison regional organiser, said: "No worker on a normal salary can afford to take a 20% pay cut. These cuts will leave people unable to pay their rents and mortgages. The university is rich enough to pay its vice chancellor over £400,000 per year, and recently obtained £300 million of funding from the stock market. This is a very wealthy employer, and it has no justification for slashing workers’ pay.

"The vice chancellor of the university and the university board should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Unison urges the university to withdraw these shocking and unacceptable pay cuts, and work with the union to find an acceptable solution."

A spokesperson for the University of Southampton said: “To improve the quality of our Student experience, the University is launching a new and improved team dedicated to student life. This team will offer unique support to our students by providing a halls-based pastoral support, open to all students at the University, 24 hours a day, seven days a week – with a greater emphasis on proactive and preventative support.

“The improved service for students means it is necessary to reorganise the current staffing structure and we are working closely with 42 colleagues who are directly affected. Any changes to pay are related to shift allowance and not basic salary.

“The new service has been designed following a detailed and extensive consultation, during which we have continually listened to feedback from staff and trade unions. As a result, we have made a number of changes to the original proposal, which has included an increase in the original shift allowance proposed. In addition the University has also offered a compensation payment to staff affected by the changes to support staff in adapting to the new pay arrangements.

“It is with regret that the University has been unable to agree a resolution that UNISON find acceptable and that industrial action is now being taken. We will do everything we can to ensure any disruption is minimalised to our students on Wednesday.”