Support staff at universities in Liverpool and Manchester are being balloted on strike action in a dispute over pay.
Unison says that higher education workers including cleaners, IT technicians and library staff are to vote on whether to take industrial action after university employers put forward a wage rise "way below" inflation.
In all 14 universities in England are being balloted for industrial action as part of the dispute, in a process ending next month.
Unison said higher education workers including cleaners, IT technicians and library staff are to vote on whether to take industrial action after university employers put forward a wage rise "way below" inflation.
The 2023/24 pay offer is worth between 5% and 8% depending on salary level, with lower paid workers getting the highest percentage rise, said the union.
