Southampton City Council workers have voted in favour of industrial action over wage cuts.

Unison, which balloted nearly 1,800 members, said 56 per cent voted for strikes on a 39 per cent return.

The union said 78.2 per cent voted for action short of a strike.

Unison branch secretary, Mike Tucker, said: "The vote to support industrial action demonstrates that Council workers are still standing up to the council's mass sackings and impositions of savage wage cuts.

"Council workers continue to resist the Conservative controlled Councils attempts to get Council workers to pay for their economic policies."

"They remain determined to defend both their pay and local services."

The ballot of the other council union, Unite, does not close until Wednesday, May 11. Once the result of this ballot is known, the two unions will decide what industrial action will be called and when it will start.

Councillor Royston Smith, Leader of Southampton City Council, said: "I am disappointed that Unison members have voted to strike over the changes to their terms and conditions.

"If the unions were genuinely interested in representing their members' interests then they should understand that we are trying to save jobs and services here.