Hundreds of support staff at two universities in Leeds are to walk out on Thursday in strike action over pay.
Administrators, cleaners, library, security and catering workers at Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds are taking action over several days up to 30 November.
They join academics at 150 universities due to begin strike action nationally.
In a statement, the University of Leeds said it had "already absorbed £40m in increased costs".
It said those costs included "meeting rising energy bills and subsidising low-cost hot meals for everyone on campus".
Meanwhile, Leeds Beckett University said it was adopting the Real Living Wage of £10.90 per hour, rather than the national minimum wage of £9.50 for those aged 23 and over.
